The abortion issue has become magnified nationwide after the leaking of a draft opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court that appears to show a majority on the high court could strike down Roe v. Wade.

The document was only in draft form and a formal vote of the court is still pending.

Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the court ruled that the Constitution protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction.

If the court overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion laws would fall to the state level. In Michigan, a long-dormant law still on the books would immediately make most abortions illegal in the state. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has asked the state Supreme Court to intervene.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Anti-abortion supporters show their support for overturning Roe v. Wade during a rally on Sunday in Alpena. The group organized directly across the street from an opposing rally supporting women’s reproductive rights.

The Reproductive Rights Rally was organized by the Alpena County Democratic Party and dozens of supporters gathered in the front yard of the Alpena County Courthouse, where Diane O’Connor, Alpena County Democratic Party Activism Committee chairwoman, addressed the crowd. She said the pending ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court justices would mean the end of women’s constitutional freedom to chart their own reproductive rights.

O’Connor said overturning the decision would have serious health ramifications for women.

“The fact is, the justices who vote to strike down Roe v. Wade will not succeed in ending abortion,” she said. “They will only succeed in ending safe abortion, and women will die as a result. If turned over to the states, for the first time in our history as a nation, the 14th Amendment, constitutionally endowed right of freedom and privacy will depend on where you live.”

Anti-abortion supporters lined the sidewalk directly across the street from those in favor of the right to choose.

Haylee Gagnon, who helped organize the counter-rally, said it is important to remember abortion impacts more than just one person and the baby’s life needs to be considered and protected.

“It is important to make a statement that it isn’t just your body, but also the baby inside of you, no matter how old or how far along you are,” Gagnon said. “I just think there are so many better options out there, like adoption. I believe all babies deserve life, whether they were meant to come into this Earth or not, and I feel their lives should be protected.”

People on both sides of the issue were energized and each received horn honks of support from motorists who passed by. The rallies remained peaceful and respectful.

O’Connor said that, although the local Democratic Party staged the event, it was advertised as a nonpartisan gathering at which people of any political affiliation were welcome.

“This is something that a majority of the country feels should be only a woman’s choice, and enshrouded under the 14th Amendment,” she said.