Anti-abortion protesters came face to face with protesters rallying for abortion access Friday in Jackson’s Smith Park.
Law enforcement officers had to intervene between the groups to keep them separated at times.
The rally and counter-protest comes as the nation braces for the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case that started in Mississippi and could see the end of the nationwide abortion protections codified in 1973 by the Roe v. Wade decision.
Friday’s rally, which organizers called the “D-Day Rally,” brought over 100 people to Smith Park at noon with temperatures in the mid-90s to voice their support for reproductive healthcare access.
About a dozen or so counter-protesters showed up carrying signs with photos of aborted fetuses and a megaphone from which they spoke of the punishment God would bring to those who support, perform or receive abortions.
At one point, a protestor with a megaphone began telling the biblical story in which Cain murders his brother Abel. The man behind the megaphone compared that murder to the act of having an abortion. “God will hold you accountable,” he said.
Elizabeth Davidson, an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church who was wearing a clerical collar under her “Faith in Women” T-shirt, stood just a few feet away shaking her head.
“Obviously that is one voice, a very very loud voice, but there are people of faith in Mississippi who support the right to a safe legal abortion because of their faith,” Davidson said.
Davidson serves as executive director of Faith in Women, a group that represents pro-choice people of faith across the state.
“I think a lot of people would be surprised by how many Christians, and Christian denominations through official statements, support abortion access,” Davidson said. “The reality is the need for reproductive healthcare won’t go away when Roe falls. Our jobs as faith leaders is to be there however we can for people who need that care and now have a much more difficult time getting it. I see that as part of our job, to provide pastoral care for people making reproductive decisions.”
One anti-abortion protestor, John Busby, said he has been protesting abortion events for years. He said his mission is to serve God.
“I have been commanded by God to intercede for those who can’t intercede for themselves, the little babies,” Busby said.
He lamented that more anti-abortion people were not there, despite the millions of Americans who identify as pro-life.
“There’s not a lot of folks that will come out to things like this,” he said, questioning whether some pro-life people “really believe this is an abomination.”
Busby challenged whether pro-choice clergy such as Davidson really have a basis for supporting abortion.
“I guarantee you if you ask those people where in the scripture it says there is a right to an abortion, they won’t be able to do it,” Busby said. Busby said abortion is covered in the Bible by the prohibition on killing. “It is murder. Thou shalt not murder.”
Later, from the stage, another pro-choice pastor spoke. Erika Forbes, a Texas-based interfaith minister who often speaks at Unitarian Universalist churches, told the crowd of her personal experience with abortion.
“God gave me the divine right. I’ve had two abortions and I’m damn proud of it,” Forbes said.
Another member of the anti-abortion group, Allan Sider, said he protests against abortion “as often as I can.”
“What we want to do is bring knowledge to people that if they don’t repent they will face God’s judgement,” Sider said.
Sider said the ordained clergy advocating for abortion rights are “in trouble with God.”
“The Bible says God hates the hands that shed innocent blood,” Sider said.
Both Sider and Busby said they believe it is possible to change pro-choice people’s minds through their aggressive tactics.
“I don’t know what the result will ultimately be, but the Bible says if God’s word is spoken, it will reach people,” Sider said.
“I’m here so God will hopefully change these people’s hearts,” Busby said.
Advocates for reproductive rights traveled from across the South to attend the rally. Jessica Frankel, coordinator for the Louisiana Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, lead a group of about 20 people from New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
“The Mississippi Freedom Fighters invited us and so we showed up in solidarity,” Frankel said. “We know that what happens in Mississippi affects people in Louisiana.”
