Connecticut protesters joined thousands across the country for a weekend of rallies in response to the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade.
![Speaking May 17 during a Bans Off Our Bodies rally at the Connecticut State Capitol, Shanique Reid said, “I am pregnant right now and let me tell you, this is not easy. It is hot, my back hurts, my ankles are swollen, but I got to decide that I wanted to keep this pregnancy. But for anyone who doesn't want to keep a pregnancy, that is okay. We are here to make sure that everyone has the autonomy and the accessibility to go to an abortion provider.”](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/956610c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4256x2835+0+0/resize/880x586!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc5%2F4e%2Fc369937f46bfbcacaf84781efd19%2F20220515bansoffourbodies1050.jpg)
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
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![Young protestors gather at a “Bans Off Our Bodies" march for abortion rights in front of the Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District Courthouse on Sunday, May 15. Speakers included community leaders as well as organizers from Stamford-based feminist activist group Pink Wave Action, along with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Women’s March, Ultraviolet, MoveOn and Ultraviolet. The protest is in response to the leaked Supreme Court majority opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aa006d8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbd%2F40%2F6578003d4c4aa0e200f4c9ae964f%2Fgregmiller-stamford-abortion-rights-583.jpg)
Greg Miller
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Connecticut Public
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![Speaking about her personal experience sexual assaults and abortion, Rachel Pawelczyk (center) is supported by and Colleen Bakery (left) and Liz Ferrari during a Bans Off Our Bodies rally Sunday, May 17, in Hartford at the Connecticut State Capitol. "We grow and change and heal at the speed of authenticity," said Pawelczyk, "And every thread weaves the cloth. Every effort, every march every moment."](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/eea792a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4528x3016+0+0/resize/880x586!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F52%2F56%2Fc3c6b2244040a79869a9e62c0971%2F20220515bansoffourbodies1657.jpg)
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
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!["We're not barefoot and pregnant anymore,” said Colleen Bakery, in front of hundreds gathered Sunday May 17 for a Bans Off Our Bodies Rally. “No matter what your choice it's your choice, your reason. If you can decide to never have an abortion in your life then that's okay, that's your choice. But you can't take that choice from me.”](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5fc662b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4524x3016+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Fdf%2F96a2232842d2928ec6fa04cf5c32%2F20220515bansoffourbodies1351.jpg)
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
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![A car drives up on the sidewalk in front of the Connecticut Supreme Court to go around Bans Off Our Bodies protesters who blocked Capitol Avenue in the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft indicating the repeal of Roe V. Wade.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c7e656b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4524x3016+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa7%2Fd9%2F1ca614da467587ce7fb3c9cd9c56%2F20220515bansoffourbodies1922.jpg)
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
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![Bans Off Our Bodies protesters block traffic on Capitol Avenue between the State Capitol and Supreme Court Sunday, May 15, in the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft indicating the repeal of Roe V. Wade.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/17f8f79/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4990x3327+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4d%2F8b%2Fea37deca487b828e1cf996d95cdf%2F20220515bansoffourbodies1978.jpg)
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
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![Police move in to control traffic after Bans Off Our Bodies protesters blocked Capitol Avenue between the State Capitol and Supreme Court Sunday, May 15, in the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft indicating the repeal of Roe V. Wade.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/763d4c9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5146x3431+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2Fcf%2F28b734f9457e9c22f38a3734a4b0%2F20220515bansoffourbodies2232.jpg)
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
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![Bans Off Our Bodies protesters march on Capitol Avenue between the State Capitol and Supreme Court Sunday, May 15, in the wake of the leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft indicating the repeal of Roe V. Wade.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c7bda80/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4524x3016+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2F6a%2Fca7648d542a29a6c3ce0c1c5a8c0%2F20220515bansoffourbodies2154.jpg)
Mark Mirko
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Connecticut Public
.
![A protestor holds up a sign at "Bans Off Our Bodies", a march for abortion rights in front of the Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District Courthouse on Sunday, May 15. Speakers included community leaders as well as organizers from Stamford-based feminist activist group Pink Wave Action, along with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Women’s March, Ultraviolet, MoveOn and Ultraviolet. The protest is in response to the leaked Supreme Court majority opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1d81def/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2Fdc%2F9da332bf4f17bdc89c2c718b1ed5%2Fgregmiller-stamford-abortion-rights-053a.jpg)
Greg Miller
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Connecticut Public