Anger, sadness, solidarity take center stage at Myrtle Beach reproductive rights rally

Chapin Park, a tranquil piece of green in downtown Myrtle Beach that hosts community events, filled Wednesday night with more than 300 people enraged by the Supreme Court’s decision to hand abortion rights back to states.

The rally came just days after the undoing of Roe v. Wade by the court’s conservative majority.

And in deep red South Carolina, rally-goers put the fight into stark terms after the state’s ban on abortions after six weeks went into effect earlier this week.

“Reality check: You cannot be for forced pregnancy and freedom at the same time,” said Jessica Lugo, a Myrtle Beach mother and member of Grand Strand Action Together, a nonprofit founded in 2016 that assembled the demonstration days after the court’s 6-3 ruling on June 24.

The burst of activism drew a handful of people who are against abortion who alternately shouted down attendees and were silenced themselves.

“Once the baby is established, it’s actually human. Now, we have to hold our legislature responsible to see if they will abolish abortion,” said Eric Johnson, a Conway father of two who attends Juniper Bay Baptist Church. “The meat of the argument is every child in the womb has value.”

Eileen Carter, 17, made the trip from Pawley’s Island with friends because they worried that taking away abortion rights affects marginalized communities.

“There are trans men that are nonbinary with uteruses, too,” she said. “Not everyone can have a kid, not everyone can pay for a kid, not everyone even just wants a kid, and there’s also severe cases like rape or incest. You need to have your choice so you can make the choice that’s best for you.”

Throughout the two-hour rally, attendees shouted politically charged and at times chants with profanties, carrying placards like “Abort the Supreme Court” and “Keep your rosaries away from my ovaries.”

Gianna Tomaine, 18, and her partner, Mango Looney, 19, of Conway, said their future together could be impacted by the state’s abortion laws.

“I’m angry and scared for what’s happening,” Tomaine said.

Reporters Megan Wallace and Caroline Williamson contributed to this story.