Crowds march in Sarasota in support of Roe v. Wade

Suzanne Weinstein and her friends remembers life before Roe — she says they don't feel like they were the good ol' days. 

"People who had to terminate a pregnancy had to go underground," Weinstein said. "Sometimes they weren't safe environments."

Upon of hearing of the leaked Supreme Court draft intending to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling legalizing abortion, Weinstein felt the need to have her voice heard.

Weinstein, Memoli and hundreds of others took to the streets of Sarasota to protest on May 14. The protest march — organized by Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida and Women's Voices of Southwest Florida and held in conjunction with other marches across the country — saw locals starting at the Planned Parenthood location on Central Ave and marching through the Rosemary District while cheering and waving signs to nearby cars. 

It was a moment that Deborah Hamm came prepared for by bringing a massive sign she held aloft walking at the front of the march. The Sarasota psychiatrist started in general med school and delivered several babies while studying in Baylor. She said she constantly heard stories from women in dire need — the idea that those circumstances could return has deeply affected her. 

"I've been devastated," Hamm said. "I think a lot of young women don't know what it used to be like."

Destani Irland, a 27-year old volunteer with Women's Voices of Southwest Florida, helped rally the march and lead people through the streets. 

"I've heard stories of the coat hanger days. I don't ever want someone to feel like their life or body autonomy is in jeopardy," Irland said. "I've been in bad situations before, and I've been fortunate. If something ever happened, I'd want to have the ability to rectify the situation in the ways I see fit instead of the government."

As for what's next, the Sarasota resident simply feels it's best to reach out to groups like Planned Parenthood and Women's Voices of Southwest Florida, write letters to local politicians and to vote.

"It's (almost) a trivial thing to say — it seems obvious, but it's what needs to happen," Irland said. "We have to research our candidates to make sure we're not stuck in an older time."