Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade draws emotions on both sides

CHARLOTTE — Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decision to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion, there was so much emotion on both sides of the issue and some said that it has been building for decades.

Channel 9′s Ken Lemon was at a women’s clinic in east Charlotte Friday, where he witnessed some tense moments.

Protesters, who are normally at the clinic, met one mother who had two abortions and was frustrated over the Supreme Court’s decision.

Michelle Carr, a mother of a teenager, said she had had enough. She normally walks by abortion opponents at The Preferred Women’s Health Center in Charlotte, but on Friday, she wanted to speak her mind.

“Freedom of religion. They are forcing theirs. It’s wrong and nobody’s talking about it,” Carr said.

She said she was angry that the Supreme Court determined abortion is no longer a federally protected right for other women.

“I will fight for my daughter and every woman in this country to have the ability to choose their own future,” Carr said.

For members of Love Life and other advocates, this was a good day. They held worship next to the clinic.

“I think it means that every human being born and unborn have better worth and value today because of the ruling of the Supreme Court,” said Josh Kappas, vice president of Love Life.

But he said their work to try and convince women not to have an abortion isn’t done.

“The job isn’t over now that Roe is overturned, it’s just beginning because we do need to rise up. There are still going to be unplanned pregnancies. That’s the church’s job, we think, to be standing up and say, ‘instead of running to your local abortion clinic or get a botched abortion or pills, we want to help you,’” said one woman with the organization Love Life.

Abortion in North Carolina is still legal up to 20 weeks, but the Supreme Court’s ruling made it banned or heavily restricted in neighboring states.

The clinic administrator told Lemon that it makes this place even more popular.

“We had people calling from, saying they are waiting for their appointments in Tennessee, Texas and other states and all of sudden they were turned away,” administrator Calla Hales said.

She said the ruling will only make North Carolina and clinics that provide abortions a prime destination for those who can get there, but said their schedules are already full.

“It’s been a remarkably heartbreaking morning having to turn people away,” Hales said.

Hales stressed their ability to perform abortions at the clinic lasts only as long as the state legislature is short of the support needed to change the law, but that can change in the November election.

Protests planned in Charlotte following SCOTUS overturning Roe v. Wade

Following the ruling, there are protests planned Friday night outside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center.

While there won’t be an immediate change in North Carolina, abortion rights supporters said that now, anything is possible.

“I never imagined we would ignore decades of legal precedent and take away a basic and essential human right to control your own body,” said Heather Mobly, with Charlotte for Choice. “There’s always discussion in our legislature about taking those right away and right now they don’t have a super majority, they still have the governor, so for at least the next two years abortion should be safe in North Carolina, but elections in November are super important.”

>> Channel 9 will have a crew following the latest developments at the protests Friday evening. Watch Eyewitness News at 11 p.m. for updates.

(WATCH BELOW: What overturning Roe v. Wade means for people in the Carolinas)

What overturning Roe v. Wade means for people in the Carolinas

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