GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — If you were driving through downtown Green Bay on Friday, you might’ve gotten more than you expected to see near the Brown County Courthouse.
Two women protesting the overturning of Roe v. Wade donned sandwich boards reading “What will you strip from me next?”
And that was it.
Nude protesters walk in downtown Green Bay on July 1st, 2022. (Casey Nelson/WTAQ)
“We have been stripped of our rights to abortion and bodily autonomy,” said Gloria. “Our rights are gone and even more rights are being actively lost. In the ruling, other rights such as the right to having sex for other than procreation, is going to be repealed next.”
Gloria and a friend wore the sandwich boards, while a third person walked with them – fully clothed – carrying a sign saying “Not your incubator.”
“The reality is that many peoples bodies, even though they are equipped with uteruses, cannot support growing a child inside of them. Many peoples mental health cannot support growing a child. Many people financially cannot afford to be pregnant,” Gloria told WTAQ News. “Abortion is a life saving health care. Abortion is a freedom initiative, Having abortions allows us to continue our careers. We need to have access to it if we are going to be free and equal people…I’ve fought my whole life to have the rights to my body. I was raised that my body was not mine. I was raised that my body belonged to a mythical husband. I was finally getting that feeling of owning my own body back when this happened.”
Nude protesters walk in downtown Green Bay on July 1st, 2022. (Casey Nelson/WTAQ)
Now, police did respond to several complaints and calls about the women and approached them just before WTAQ arrived on site.
“They acknowledged that we were legally dressed and asked us to keep it moving on the sidewalk. They asked us that if we saw children, to use our sandwich boards accordingly,” Gloria said.
A larger rally is planned for Sunday from 5-8 pm along Oneida Street near Lambeau Field.
So why did she opt for Friday morning? Why the courthouse?
“This is when the D.A. is in his office. This is when people who are able to choose to prosecute or not to prosecute are in their office. That’s why I am here today [and not this weekend],” Gloria explained.
It comes a week after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down Roe v Wade, the 1973 court decision that originally ended abortion bans nationwide. Wisconsin has an abortion ban on the books dating back to 1849.
WTAQ’s Casey Nelson contributed to this story.
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