CLEVELAND — Hundreds of doctors from across Northeast Ohio gathered in Cleveland's Public Square Saturday to protest the Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had previously guaranteed the constitutional right to an abortion.
Those in attendance announced the creation of a new group called "Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights," whose stated mission is to "unify, represent, and mobilize Ohio physicians, advocating for all people's right to evidence-based reproductive medical care, including abortion."
"It has become painfully clear that women are now losing bodily autonomy, basic human rights and access to life-saving medical care," the coalition wrote in a letter signed by more than 900 physicians statewide, adding "the sanctity and privacy of the patient-physician relationship" is being violated.
Specifically, those in attendance were protesting Ohio's recently enacted "Heartbeat Law," which banned most abortions in the state after roughly six weeks of pregnancy. Some prosecutors, such as Cuyahoga County's Michael O'Malley, have pledged not to pursue criminal charges against abortion patients or providers.
The Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights -- a group made up of doctors in all fields across the state -- released the following statement alongside signatures of their members:
You can watch portions of the demonstration in the player below:
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