CLEVELAND (WJW) – The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday divided people across Northeast Ohio.

Protests broke out outside Cleveland City Hall Friday night.

“I was so angry. I don’t know if I’ve ever been so angry in my entire life,” said Lee Thompson, a member of Standup4AbortionRight Cleveland chapter.

SkyFOX was in the air as around 200 people demonstrated in the aftermath of a ruling that ended a constitutional right to abortion.

“I feel like we are all sad and angry, especially about what could happen now that this happened,” said Anna Bachman, a protestor.

An emotional crowd talked, walked and some even blocked traffic at the intersection of E. 9th Street and Lakeside Avenue.

Outside the federal courthouse, Cleveland Right to Life and members of the anti-abortion community celebrated the decision.

“We are absolutely elated, we are thrilled. We are so grateful to God and the six Justices that had the courage to make this decision,” said Kate Makra, executive director of Cleveland Right to Life.

Organizers said while Roe’s days are over, the anti-abortion movement’s work has just begun.

“We will be working hard with legislators to recognize the personhood of a fetus,” said Makra.

Here in Ohio, a bill known as a “trigger ban” was introduced in the Ohio Senate a couple months ago. The Human Life Protection Act would immediately prohibit abortion in Ohio except in cases where the
mother’s life is in danger.

The bill has yet to be passed by the house and signed by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Friday’s outcome is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states, including Ohio. 

The ruling came more than a month after the stunning leak of a draft opinion by Justice Samuel Alito indicating the court was prepared to take this momentous step.