SUPREME COURT HEARINGS ROUSE ANTI-ABORTION PROTEST GROUPS IN OKLAHOMA

With the U.S. Supreme Court hearings for Amy Coney Barrett, a federal judge nominated for SCOTUS, coming to an end, many wonder what the fate of Roe v. Wade will be.

Early Thursday morning on Oct. 8, anti-abortion protestors, or as they prefer, "abolitionists," gathered outside the Trust Women Oklahoma City clinic.

The clinic provides full-spectrum reproductive health care, including abortions.

The abolitionists are part of an organization called The Ekklesia of Oklahoma.

According to The Ekklesia of Oklahoma website, the organization is a global movement of Christ-followers and concerned citizens responding to the growing social, political and economic crises with practical Biblical principles and models.

Daniel Navejas, a pastor from the Gathering Church in Guthrie, Oklahoma, oversees The Ekklesia of Oklahoma.

"Our number-one issue is the immediate and total abolition of abortion," said Navejas. "We use evangelism, coming out here to the abortion clinics or as we refer them, 'The Gates of Hell,' and providing adoption, financial and housing resources as well as ultrasounds."

According to Navejas, anti-abortionists and abolitionists are entirely different. Anti-abortionists pursue regulations on the issue, while abolitionists seek to eliminate the issue.

"I don't have a lot of faith that the new Supreme Court nominee is going to overturn Roe v. Wade. As abolitionists, we believe we don't need the Supreme Court's permission," said Navejas. "If we can defy the Supreme Court for marijuana as a state government, why can't we do the same with abortion?"

Trust Women Oklahoma City is part of the Trust Women's Foundation, a leading pro-choice and reproductive justice organization based in Wichita, Kansas.

Julie A. Burkhart is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust Women Foundation.

Burkhart wrote, via email, "Ever since Roe v. Wade was decided, abortion rights in America have been at risk. Judge Barrett's confirmation to the Supreme Court would put women's rights to make health care decisions for themselves in danger. Still, it would not change the need for abortion services."

According to the New York Magazine, lawmakers in six states, including Oklahoma, have attempted to halt abortion services indefinitely during COVID-19.

Burkhart wrote, "As a result, our Wichita, Kansas, clinic saw an increase in visits of more than 400%. Women were traveling hundreds of miles to receive care that is legal but not accessible in their state."

In 2013, the foundation opened Trust Women South Wind Women's Center in Wichita. In 2016, the Trust Women Foundation opened a clinic at 1240 SW 44th Street in Oklahoma City.

Trust Women Foundation’s mission is to provide health care in underserved communities regardless of their ability to pay. The foundation offers medication and surgical abortion services.

On Oct. 13, PBS New Hour posted a video from Barrett's hearing regarding her responses and views toward abortion.

In the video, Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., pressed Barrett on her views of two landmark abortion rights cases, Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

Feinstein asked Barrett if she thought those cases were wrongly decided and could thus be overturned.

Barrett said, "I can't express views on cases or commit to approaching a case any particular way… I will follow the law."

Judge Amy Coney Barrett faced the final day of questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, Oct. 15.

The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to vote on Barrett’s confirmation on Monday, Oct. 26.