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Truck CHARGES INTO pro-choice protesters in Iowa after Roe v Wade overturned

People had gathered for a peaceful protest when the truck rammed through the pedestrian walkway at the Federal Courthouse in Cedar Rapids

The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade, a landmark 1973 ruling, does not instantly alter Iowa's abortion laws, but it does open the door for the state to enact and enforce more restrictions. On Friday, June 24, people had gathered for a peaceful pro-choice protest when a truck rammed through the pedestrian walkway at the Federal Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, injuring some of the demonstrators.

A woman, Alexis Russell, suffered a foot injury while attempting to stop the vehicle. "Witnesses at a rally in Cedar Rapids Friday say a truck ran over a woman's foot during a peaceful pro-choice protest," CBS Iowa reported. Russell, who was struck by the truck, spoke to the network. "I was over here, I turned around the light was red, and the truck got impatient for whatever reason and charged into the crowd," she said.

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Russell added, "There's at least three people, I look over I see people trying to push the truck back, and I just instantly got mad and ran over and tried to stop the truck. I tried to stop him, he grabbed (and) ripped my sign, and push me down drove off and that was it."

Ashley Vanorney, a city councilor for Cedar Rapids' District 5, claims to have attended the rally. "Tonight a truck jumped traffic + plowed into peaceful protestors crossing the pedestrian walkway at the Federal Courthouse. I was walking along side them—the crowd included children alongside me. Thank you for @crpd for responding. The license plate was WRAPTOR in Hawkeye colors," Vanorney tweeted.

Iowa News Now tweeted a video of the woman who got struck by the truck and wrote, "Here's the woman who said the truck ran over her foot at protests today in Cedar Rapids. She says the driver "charged into the crowd" and she went over to try and stop the truck."

Earlier on June 7, a group of pro-choice protesters stormed the floor during the WNBA game between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx at Barclays Center. In the midst of the game, some of the women ran down to the court while others carried signs endorsing the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling. They had taken off their tops and displayed their chests.

Video of the Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights protesters marching to the game was taken by onlookers. Some of them were covered in green paint and holding pro-abortion rights banners. Security eventually led the women outside the structure. No charges were brought, according to the NYPD.