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A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 4 May 2022
"Still in shock." Abortion defenders, foes stunned by leak

Continued from Front "When our Supreme Court
stuff starts to be leaked, it's
"I really appreciate their ef- egregious," he said. "One
forts, and obviously based side or the other did it for
on the news last night, I'm a political motive to stir up
worried that this is one of some kind of stink."
the last times I'll see them," In Louisville, Kentucky, pro-
said Folsom. She and her tester Angela Minter said
family eat breakfast every she prayed the draft opin-
Saturday at a coffee shop ion will be the final one.
near the clinic, and always "I'm excited today," Minter
felt grateful for the volun- said. "I believe it's an indi-
teers willing to help people cation of what's to come."
in a state where opposition Minter thinks that's God an-
to abortion is strong. swering her prayers: she's
Folsom said she felt devas- been coming to the clinic
tated when she read the most mornings since 2004.
news Monday night. Patients tried to dodge her
"I kind of can't believe that and the other protesters
I live in a country where screaming outside. "Don't
things seem to be moving murder your baby," one
backwards," she said. man shouted at a young
Inside clinics, the news woman. Clinic escorts in or-
prompted frantic phone Demonstrators protest outside of the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday, May 3, 2022 in Washington. ange vests helped her into
calls. People were con- Associated Press the building.
fused about whether abor- patients need to hear?" National Abortion Federa- still legal," the clinic posted The Louisville clinic was
tion remains legal, and for She posted a notice on the tion Conference when the on social media, "but that closed for a week last
how long. website of the clinics: "If you news broke Monday night could change as soon as month after the legislature
"I immediately felt sick to have an appointment at and she barely slept, she next month." banned abortion, until a
my stomach," said Tammi Red River Women's Clinic, said. She was having night- She had been bracing for court intervened. But if Roe
Kromenaker, who owns a your appointment is safe." mares about the Supreme this news. falls, it will likely be shut-
clinic in Fargo, North Dako- Katie Quinonez rushed off Court. "But there was still this vis- tered again.
ta. "And 20 million thoughts a plane Tuesday morning She was terrified that her ceral reaction, this very "I do anticipate a day with
started going through my and drove straight to the patients would misunder- devastating feeling," Qui- no abortion clinics in Ken-
head about what can we clinic she runs in Charle- stand the news and think nonez said. tucky," said Meg Stern, who
do? What does my staff ston, West Virginia. She'd that abortion was immedi- At Johnson's clinic in Hunts- runs the Kentucky Health
need to hear? What do our also been attending the ately outlawed. "Abortion is ville, the phone was ringing Justice Network and es-
more than usual. Women corts at the clinic. Abortion
called to ask whether they access will now be an issue
can still get an abortion. of privilege: people with
Johnson said his first call the means to travel will be
of the morning was from a able to end their pregnan-
woman who had an abor- cies.
tion scheduled for Friday For months now, the na-
and wanted to come in tion has had a glimpse of
Tuesday. what that looks like. Texas
The staff held a meeting, banned abortion after
and Johnson says he asked six weeks in September.
them to focus on the wom- Planned Parenthood clin-
en who are still coming for ics in the surrounding states
abortions who need their saw a 2,500% increase in
help. The opinion was just patients, said Dr. Iman Al-
a draft, he told them, and saden, medical director for
cautioned that it wasn't the Planned Parenthood Great
final decision. Plains.
Some anti-abortion activ- Some groups are working
ists were skeptical that the to try to circumvent the law
draft would become real- the best they can: mobile
ity, fixating instead on the abortion units, fundraising
fact that it was leaked the for travel assistance, mail-
press and whether that im- order medications. One
plied political posturing. online women's health pro-
"I'm hopeful," said Dennis vider reported a significant
Westover, a 72-year-old spike in requests for emer-
retired electrical engineer, gency contraception Tues-
a regular protester outside day. Democrat-leaning
the clinic in Charleston, states like New York, Cali-
West Virginia. But he was fornia and Illinois are rush-
suspicious that someone ing to pass laws to protect
leaked it as ammunition in abortion access, both for
the country's intractable their residents and people
culture wars. coming from out of state.q