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Demonstrators gather at the Supreme Court's doorstep after Roe v. Wade opinion leak

NPR | By Estefania Mitre

Published May 3, 2022 at 4:16 PM EDT

"My corpse has more right than my body," Jessica Golibart, a D.C. resident, said outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 3.

U.S. senators gathered alongside protesters on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court to celebrate and oppose the leaked draft opinion published by Politico Monday night. The draft opinion as written showed that a majority of justices on the court would vote to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that established the right to abortion.

Abortion-rights supporter Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt debates with abortion-rights opponent Minister Leroy Swailes outside U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday. — Abortion-rights supporter the Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt debates with abortion-rights opponent Minister Leroy Swailes outside U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.

So far, Chief Justice John Roberts has authenticated the draft opinion and launched an investigation into how the draft got leaked, though he noted it does not represent the court's final opinion. Several governors have made a statements about where their states stand on the issue.

Here are some of the scenes seen at the Supreme Court doorsteps captured by D.C. photographers:

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Abortion-rights supporter Dunia Sinnreich (right) and Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt stand outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday. — Abortion-rights supporter Dunia Sinnreich (right) and the Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt stand outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Anti-abortion rights protesters singing and chanting anti-abortion slogans outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) stands alongside abortion-rights supporters outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday. — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., stands alongside abortion-rights supporters outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Abortion-rights activist argues with anti-abortion-rights protesters outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday. — An abortion-rights activist argues with anti-abortion-rights protesters outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.

A protestor posts in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday holding a sign that reads, "Thou shalt not steal my civil rights, thou shalt not steal my repro rights." — A protester stands in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday holding a sign that reads, "Thou shalt not steal my civil rights, thou shalt not steal my repro rights."

Sen. Amy <strong></strong>Klobuchar (D-Minn.) speaking among a pro-choice rights protestors outside the U.S. Supreme Court — Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks among abortion-rights supporters outside the U.S. Supreme Court.

Protesters argue outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday after a leaked draft decision showed a majority of the court's justices have voted to overturn <em>Roe v. Wade</em>. — Protesters argue outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday after a leaked draft decision suggested a majority of the court's justices would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) voices his support for abortion and trans rights outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday — Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., voices his support for abortion and trans rights outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Abortion rights supporters gather at the Supreme Court on Tuesday — Abortion-rights supporters gather at the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Protesters gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday after a leaked draft decision showed a majority of the court's justices have voted to overturn <em>Roe v. Wade</em>. — Protesters gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday.

Abortion-rights opponent Rev. Leroy Swailes stands outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday.

Protesters stand outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday after a leaked draft decision showed that a majority of the court's justices have voted to overturn <em>Roe v. Wade</em>. — Protesters stand outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday after a leaked draft decision suggested a majority of the court's justices would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Protesters stand outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday after a leaked draft decision showed that a majority of the court's justices have voted to overturn <em>Roe v. Wade</em>. — Protesters stand outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday.

A protestor holds a coat hanger aloft outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday. — A protester holds a coat hanger aloft outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday.

Sharmin Hossain, a Campaign Director for Liberate Abortion, stands with abortion-rights supporters outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday.

Zoe Gandee holds her 4-month-old daughter, Matilda Gandee-Riggs, with a sign that reads "here for her" outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Tuesday.

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Estefania Mitre

Estefania Mitre (she/her/ella) is a production assistant for social media who works with visual elements to amplify stories across platforms. She has experience reporting on culture, social justice and music.

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