Women's marches draw thousands on 50th anniversary of abortion verdict

Protesters demand return of protection for women's right to choose

A Women's March in Washington on Sunday marked 50 years since the Supreme Court Roe v Wade verdict that allowed access to abortion. The court last June overturned the verdict. Bloomberg

Since the overturning of the Roe v Wade verdict, states have had the power to severely limit abortion, and about a dozen have passed near-total bans. Bloomberg

Women also took to the streets in large numbers in New York on Sunday. AFP

Women also took to the streets in large numbers in New York on Sunday. AFP

Women also took to the streets in large numbers in New York on Sunday. AFP

The national Women's March started in 2017 after Donald Trump was elected president. AFP

Demonstrators at the Women's March were peaceful but made their voices heard. AFP

Anti-abortion demonstrators in Washington showed up on Sunday after their own march on Saturday. Bloomberg

Anti-abortion protesters confront abortion rights marchers outside the Supreme Court on Sunday. Bloomberg

Sunday marked the 50th anniversary of the US Supreme Court's Roe v Wade ruling that legalised abortion across the US. Bloomberg

Demonstrators during a Women's March rally in Washington. Bloomberg

Demonstrators in Washington. Bloomberg

Demonstrators outside the White House in Washington. Bloomberg

The Women's March on Sunday. Bloomberg

Demonstrators rally outside the US Capitol building in Washington. Bloomberg

Abortion supporters rallied by the thousands on Sunday to demand protection for rights to abortion and mark the 50th anniversary of the now-overturned Roe v Wade US Supreme Court decision allowing the procedure.

Organisers said they were focusing on states after the Supreme Court's reversal of the verdict in June brought in abortion restrictions and near-total bans in more than a dozen states.

“We are going to where the fight is and that is at the state level,” reads the website for the Women's March.

The group has called this year's rallies “Bigger than Roe”.

The main march occurred in Madison, Wisconsin, where coming state Supreme Court elections could determine the balance of power and future of abortion rights in the state.

Abortions are banned in Wisconsin due to legal uncertainties faced by clinics.

Tens of thousands of anti-abortion activists descended on the National Mall in Washington on Friday to call for a nationwide ban on abortion.

The 50th annual March for Life event was the first to be held since the Supreme Court upended five decades of precedent and overturned Roe v Wade, which protected the right to abortion.

The court’s decision in Dobbs v Jackson now leaves it up to states to decide whether or not women will have the right to the procedure.

Other large marches took place in New York, Washington and Los Angeles.

The Women’s March has become a regular event with millions turning out in the US and around the world the day after the January 2017 inauguration of then president Donald Trump.

Mr Trump made appointing conservative judges a mission of his presidency.

The three conservative justices he appointed to the US Supreme Court — Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — all voted to overturn Roe v Wade.

Mr Kavanaugh and Ms Barrett said that they would protect the law in confirmations hearings.

AP contributed to this report