Four women ran topless onto the court at a WNBA game Tuesday night to protest any attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The game featured the New York Liberty playing against the Minnesota Lynx.
The women appeared to be linked to a group called Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights, which tweeted, “This was the audience we wanted. We aren’t protesting to change the hearts & minds of woman-hating fascists. No. We are calling on those who can stop the overturning of #RoeVWade: THE MILLIONS of ppl who support #abortionrights. YOU! No business as usual. Shut the country down!”
Some of the women painted their breasts green; some had red paint between their legs.
This was the audience we wanted. We aren't protesting to change the hearts & minds of woman-hating fascists. No. We are calling on those who can stop the overturning of #RoeVWade: THE MILLIONS of ppl who support #abortionrights. YOU! No business as usual. Shut the country down! pic.twitter.com/2HvCTfNIti
— Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights (@riseup4abortion) June 8, 2022
Security at the game ushered the women off the court.
New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu said after the game, “I really wasn’t sure what was going on. I personally thought it was the halftime show,” the Daily Mail reported. She added, “It took me a little bit of time to process. It was a little crazy. Props to the security to get everyone off the floor. But good for them, I guess. If it solves something, I’m all for it,” according to ESPN.
Her teammate Rebecca Allen echoed, “I’m all for the message. And I’m happy that we were able to log back into the game and continue playing.”
The sight of the topless women horrified some people who saw it, causing reactions such as these:
Cover up, please. I am having lunch. This behavior doesn’t change anyone’s mind.
— sohali (@sohali2012) June 8, 2022
You should go easy on the double whoppers & fries.
— Hunter Biden’s Life Coach (@Dave_AllRighty) June 8, 2022
This is absolutely gross and I don’t see it swaying anyone or changing minds .
— Jacqueline Zavala (@sweetnfreee43) June 8, 2022
Nice of them to do this in a forum where nobody would see it https://t.co/1ym3T6uGRF
— Best selling LGBT children's author Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 8, 2022
After a draft opinion from the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe V. Wade was leaked in early May, the WNBA released a statement two days later, saying:
The WNBA believes all women have the right to autonomy over their bodies and fair and equal access to healthcare. We will continue to support and advocate for women and their personal decisions regarding their health. We must also act to protect women’s rights, and elections have consequences. That is why civic engagement and voting rights will remain a focus as we tip off the 2022 WNBA season.
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 4, 2022
The WNBA’s Atlanta Dream issued a statement reading:
We at the Atlanta Dream fundamentally support the right for a woman to make decisions over her own body. If Roe v. Wade is overturned it will harm women and, disproportionately, marginalized communities. We vow to continue to uplift the voices of women and girls, as well as members of the Atlanta community.
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) May 3, 2022