SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Angry South Lake Tahoe residents gathered at Lakeview Commons on Tuesday evening to protest the U.S. Supreme Court ruling which overturned the federal right to abortion. 

At 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, about 200 people gathered at Lakeview Commons before trekking over to U.S. Highway 50 with signs and chants.

The event started with a speech by co-organizer Jackie DuPont, who said she overcame her fear of public speaking for the event. 

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“When I’m happy or excited, I’m this big bouncing ball of energy but when I’m sad or angry, I turn into a festering blackhole,” DuPont said to the crowd. “It’s out of that exact desperation that I started to search for something to do with all the pain that was left here inside me, lingering when the woman’s right to choice was stripped away by the highest court in the land last week.”

The organizers partnered with the Wild West Access Fund of Nevada, which raises money to provide free abortion access to anyone. 

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DuPont said that although both California and Nevada have access to abortion laws on the books, she knows there will be an influx on people from out-of-state looking for abortions and there aren’t enough resources currently available to handle that. 

The fundraising goal for the protest was $500, which was reached before the protest even started, so they upped the goal to $1,000. 

Sue Chandler, Chair of the South Lake Tahoe Democratic Club also spoke. 

“I can remember the day in 1973 when they passed Roe vs. Wade, the happiest day of my life. Last week was the saddest day of my life,” Chandler said.

She asked for more young people to get involved with the party and to elect Democrats to office.

Prior to going to the street, DuPont went over rules for the event which included not blocking access to cars or sidewalks and not engaging counter-protesters. As of 5 p.m., there were no counter-protesters. 

To learn more about the Wild West Access Fund, visit /http://www.wildwestfund.org.