This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, June 27th, 2022.

Later in the program, Indiana University hosted a panel of legal experts in light of the Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade. More in today’s feature report.

Also coming up in the next half hour, protesters gathered for a demonstration and march in support of abortion rights. That’s coming up next in your daily headlines:

Protest and March at Courthouse over Roe v. Wade

Protestors gathered at the Monroe County Courthouse on Monday in support of reproductive rights (Young).

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5 to 4 to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that recognized the constitutional right to abortion.

Demonstrators gathered for a protest and march at the Monroe County Courthouse on Monday to speak out against the recent ruling.

Ashley Culbertson, a protestor and organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, said she’s not surprised by the Supreme Court decision.

"I mean, we knew that it was unpopular before we saw mass demonstrations across the country just to the leak. I think that it's not too surprising that this court, who would rule this way in the first place, does not care about the mass demonstrations that we saw in the streets and the mass public reaction against it. It's very clear that they do not care about what is popular with the American people that they do not care about it being a democratic process," said Culbertson.

She said the ruling will impact generations to come – especially low-income and traditionally marginalized communities.

"I think that it's really going to hit those communities the hardest," she said.

Abortion is still legal in Indiana at the moment. However, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb called for a special session of the state legislature on July 6th.

Culbertson speculated as to what she believes the state will decide next Wednesday. She also called out religious-affiliated pregnancy centers in town.

"I am really nervous that they are going to be anti-choice, anti reproductive rights in their decision that they will ban it across the state of Indiana. We've already seen the crackdown that they have done on abortion clinics while it was still federally protected. So I think that that's just gonna get worse," said Culbertson.

Culbertson walked through what went into the organization of the protest and march.

"We knew that we have the ability and the resources to be able to organize something like this where you're able to get this amount of people to one place who all agree on an issue," she said.

A core council member of Black Lives Matter Bloomington said that BLM B-Town is organizing a fundraiser for reproductive support. For more information about the organization, visit this link.

IU Hosts Panel of Experts on the Overturning of Roe v. Wade

Indiana University hosted a virtual press conference on Monday featuring experts to answer questions on the recent Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.

Experts commented on various angles of the decision and what it means for reproductive rights in the United States.

Jennifer Drobac, professor of law at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law at IUPUI, commented on the recent decision.

Professor Jody Madeira of the IU Mauer School of Law gave her initial reaction to the Supreme Court ruling.

Professor of Law and Senior Scientist at the Kinsey Institute India Thusi said the SCOTUS decision will lead to harmful outcomes.

Associate Professor at IU’s McKinney School of Law Aila Hoss discussed the Supreme Court ruling from her area of focus.

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