Protest

20
Jun 2024
18:46 UTC

Canada & USA Tactical: Pro-choice protests marking anniversary of Roe v. Wade overturning slated in multiple cities including in Washington, DC on June 22, 24; maintain heightened vigilance

Current Situation

  • According to reports, multiple reproductive rights groups and pro-abortion movements like ‘Rights 2 abortion’ have called for protests in the USA and Canada on June 22 and 24.  
  • The protests align with the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision on June 24, 2022, that overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion.
  • Details on the slated pro-choice protests are as follows:
  • In Hamilton, ON, Canada, a pro-choice demonstration is slated in front of the Hamilton City Hall from 11:30-14:30 (local time) on June 24. 
  • In the USA, the protests are slated in the following cities:
  • In Albany, NY, a protest is planned at the West Capitol Park on State Street from 13:30-15:30 on June 24. 
  • In Madison, WI, a protest is planned in front of the Wisconsin State Capitol on 2 East Main Street at 10:00 on June 24.
  • In Milwaukee, WI,  a protest march is planned from Red Arrow Park on 920 Water Street at 12:00 on June 22. The end point of the march remains unknown as of writing.  
  • In Philadelphia, PA, a protest is planned at Franklin Square on 200 North 6th Street at 10:00 on June 22.  
  • In Phoenix, AZ, a protest is slated in front of the Brick Road Coffee Shop on 4415 S Rural Road 10, Tempe city at 18:00-20:00 on June 24.
  • In Washington, DC, pro-choice protesters will march from the Supreme Court building on First Street and end their rally near Capitol Hill from 16:30-18:00 on June 24. Moreover, as per June 17 reports, non-scalable fencing has been erected around the Supreme Court building. Similar fences were erected amid Roe vs. Wade protests in 2023 and 2022.
  • Further, reports indicate that in the USA, protesting members, largely women, have announced a 24-hour strike starting at 23:50 on June 24. The striking individuals will not attend work or purchase anything during this period. 

Assessments & Forecast

  1. Based on previous Roe v. Wade marches in the USA, including on January 22, 2023, the upcoming protests across the country will likely witness varied turnouts ranging in the mid-hundreds-to-high thousands. The highest number of protesters can be expected in Washington, DC. Judging by the Roe v. Wade protest organized by the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) on June 24, 2023, the slated protest in Ontario, Canada will likely draw a turnout in the high hundreds. 
  2. While no other protests have been announced as of writing, the possibility of spontaneous pro-choice demonstrations and associated rallies can be expected in other major urban centers of the USA and Canada including in New York City, Chicago, Toronto, and Saskatchewan, as seen in 2023. This may be due to the heightened sentiments over pro-abortion choices, also supported by May 17 public survey reports stating that 63 per cent of US citizens feel threatened by the Roe v. Wade overruling decision and over 50 percent of Canadians believe that the US abortion debate impacts them. 
  3. Based on the multiple anti-abortion rallies held nationwide in the USA during the annual March for Life in January 2024, the potential for “Pro-Life” protesters to stage counter-protests in the vicinity of the planned marches cannot be ruled out.  
  4. Moreover, with the Supreme Court’s June 13 “Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine” ruling supporting access to abortion drugs suggests the likelihood of continued mobilization in the coming weeks around abortion access on both sides of the issue, especially in several swing states like Arizona and Wisconsin. 
  5. While no major violent unrest was recorded amid the 2023 Roe v. Wade protest in the USA and Canada and the January 2024 protests in the USA, given heightened sentiments over the issue, the possibility for unrest remains. Potential unrest can be recorded in the form of clashes with security personnel and opposing groups, as well as vandalism amid public protests. In such a scenario, security officials are liable to use crowd dispersal methods and conduct arbitrary arrests.  
  6. Overall, a bolstered security presence can be expected at all protest venues in Canada and the USA, especially near the Capitol Hill and Supreme Court Building in Washington, DC. 
  7. Localized disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic are likely near all planned protests in Canada and the USA during the slated hours.

Recommendations

  1. Those operating or residing in the aforementioned cities in Canada and the USA, during the slated hours on June 22 and 24 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance in the vicinity of pro-choice protests.  
  2. Allot for travel disruptions near all protest sites during the slated hours. 
AFFECTED AREA Canada, USA
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Credible

Current Situation

  • According to reports, multiple reproductive rights groups and pro-abortion movements like ‘Rights 2 abortion’ have called for protests in the USA and Canada on June 22 and 24.  
  • The protests align with the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision on June 24, 2022, that overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion.
  • Details on the slated pro-choice protests are as follows:
  • In Hamilton, ON, Canada, a pro-choice demonstration is slated in front of the Hamilton City Hall from 11:30-14:30 (local time) on June 24. 
  • In the USA, the protests are slated in the following cities:
  • In Albany, NY, a protest is planned at the West Capitol Park on State Street from 13:30-15:30 on June 24. 
  • In Madison, WI, a protest is planned in front of the Wisconsin State Capitol on 2 East Main Street at 10:00 on June 24.
  • In Milwaukee, WI,  a protest march is planned from Red Arrow Park on 920 Water Street at 12:00 on June 22. The end point of the march remains unknown as of writing.  
  • In Philadelphia, PA, a protest is planned at Franklin Square on 200 North 6th Street at 10:00 on June 22.  
  • In Phoenix, AZ, a protest is slated in front of the Brick Road Coffee Shop on 4415 S Rural Road 10, Tempe city at 18:00-20:00 on June 24.
  • In Washington, DC, pro-choice protesters will march from the Supreme Court building on First Street and end their rally near Capitol Hill from 16:30-18:00 on June 24. Moreover, as per June 17 reports, non-scalable fencing has been erected around the Supreme Court building. Similar fences were erected amid Roe vs. Wade protests in 2023 and 2022.
  • Further, reports indicate that in the USA, protesting members, largely women, have announced a 24-hour strike starting at 23:50 on June 24. The striking individuals will not attend work or purchase anything during this period. 

Assessments & Forecast

  1. Based on previous Roe v. Wade marches in the USA, including on January 22, 2023, the upcoming protests across the country will likely witness varied turnouts ranging in the mid-hundreds-to-high thousands. The highest number of protesters can be expected in Washington, DC. Judging by the Roe v. Wade protest organized by the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) on June 24, 2023, the slated protest in Ontario, Canada will likely draw a turnout in the high hundreds. 
  2. While no other protests have been announced as of writing, the possibility of spontaneous pro-choice demonstrations and associated rallies can be expected in other major urban centers of the USA and Canada including in New York City, Chicago, Toronto, and Saskatchewan, as seen in 2023. This may be due to the heightened sentiments over pro-abortion choices, also supported by May 17 public survey reports stating that 63 per cent of US citizens feel threatened by the Roe v. Wade overruling decision and over 50 percent of Canadians believe that the US abortion debate impacts them. 
  3. Based on the multiple anti-abortion rallies held nationwide in the USA during the annual March for Life in January 2024, the potential for “Pro-Life” protesters to stage counter-protests in the vicinity of the planned marches cannot be ruled out.  
  4. Moreover, with the Supreme Court’s June 13 “Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine” ruling supporting access to abortion drugs suggests the likelihood of continued mobilization in the coming weeks around abortion access on both sides of the issue, especially in several swing states like Arizona and Wisconsin. 
  5. While no major violent unrest was recorded amid the 2023 Roe v. Wade protest in the USA and Canada and the January 2024 protests in the USA, given heightened sentiments over the issue, the possibility for unrest remains. Potential unrest can be recorded in the form of clashes with security personnel and opposing groups, as well as vandalism amid public protests. In such a scenario, security officials are liable to use crowd dispersal methods and conduct arbitrary arrests.  
  6. Overall, a bolstered security presence can be expected at all protest venues in Canada and the USA, especially near the Capitol Hill and Supreme Court Building in Washington, DC. 
  7. Localized disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic are likely near all planned protests in Canada and the USA during the slated hours.

Recommendations

  1. Those operating or residing in the aforementioned cities in Canada and the USA, during the slated hours on June 22 and 24 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance in the vicinity of pro-choice protests.  
  2. Allot for travel disruptions near all protest sites during the slated hours. 
AFFECTED AREA Canada, USA
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Credible

Related Reports

AMERICAS
  • PROTEST
    Protest
    Ecuador Tactical: Roadblocks erected, tire fires reported amid ongoing protests denouncing rise in fuel prices across Quito on July 2; maintain heightened vigilance
  • PROTEST
    Protest
    Ecuador Tactical: FUT labor union calls for nationwide protests, including in Quito, from 16:00 (local time) on July 4; allot for disruptions
  • PROTEST
    Protest
    Americas Tactical: Left-wing groups slated to hold anti-imperialist protests in multiple cities regionwide on July 4; allot for disruptions
  • PROTEST
    Protest
    Puerto Rico (US) Tactical: Unionized workers call for protest denouncing privatization of electricity in San Juan on July 3; allot for disruptions

Related Reports

AMERICAS
  • PROTEST
    Protest
    Ecuador Tactical: Roadblocks erected, tire fires reported amid ongoing protests denouncing rise in fuel prices across Quito on July 2; maintain heightened vigilance
  • PROTEST
    Protest
    Ecuador Tactical: FUT labor union calls for nationwide protests, including in Quito, from 16:00 (local time) on July 4; allot for disruptions
  • PROTEST
    Protest
    Americas Tactical: Left-wing groups slated to hold anti-imperialist protests in multiple cities regionwide on July 4; allot for disruptions
  • PROTEST
    Protest
    Puerto Rico (US) Tactical: Unionized workers call for protest denouncing privatization of electricity in San Juan on July 3; allot for disruptions