From Huntsville to Mobile, Birmingham to Montgomery, thousands of Alabamians gathered Sunday in protest of the state’s new abortion law, widely considered the most restrictive in the country.

“I think this size shows us that people are mad,” said Megan Skipper, one of the organizers for the Montgomery rally. “And we are the majority and that abortion rights are human rights and that’s what we want for the state of Alabama.”

The law, signed by Gov. Kay Ivey last week, includes no exceptions for cases of rape and incest, outlawing all abortions except when necessary to prevent serious health problems for the woman. Though women are exempt from criminal and civil liability, the new law punishes doctors for performing an abortion, making the procedure a Class A felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison. The law won’t go into effect for six months, though supporters and opponents expect it to be blocked by federal courts.

Opponents of the bill began organizing protests and rallies late last week. After a rally in Montgomery was announced for Sunday, organizers in other cities planned their rallies for the same day.

Montgomery

Montgomery’s March for Reproductive Freedom began Sunday at the Court Square Fountain.

“We never planned for it to be this big,” said Megan Skipper of Montgomery, one of the organizers. “But I think this size shows us that people are mad. And we are the majority and that abortion rights are human rights and that’s what we want for the state of Alabama.”

Crowd cheering for woman who told story of being rape victim who had an abortion. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/7uEdd0CNHN — Mike Cason (@MikeCasonAL) May 19, 2019

The crowd cheered speakers from the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, Yellowhammer Fund and other organizations, as well as those sharing their personal experiences.

“We shouldn’t be having to have a protest about this,” said Anna Belle May, 20, of Prattville, who said it was her first time at a protest. “There’s separation of church and state for a reason, and we’re bringing the church into the Legislature.”

Birmingham

In Birmingham, a crowd of 2,000 joined the “March for Reproductive Freedom,” which began and ended Kelly Ingram Park and included a rally.

Sarah Dillie, an OBGYN, marched alongside other doctors in white coats to protest the ban’s criminalization of doctors who perform abortions.

“I am here because doing my job should not be criminalized. I don’t think I should be called a felon for doing something that is part of comprehensive women’s healthcare.

Libby Rich speaks out about having an illegal abortion in Alabama pre Roe v Wade. She had to go in front of three male doctors who would decide if she could have a “therapeutic abortion.” pic.twitter.com/JLAw7I8i27 — Abbey Crain (@AbbeyCrain) May 20, 2019

Marchers walked around Kelly Ingram Park yelling “my body, my choice” and “hey hey, ho ho, abortion bans have got to go.”

Huntsville

Huntsville police estimated as many as 1,000 attendees at the “My Body, My Choice” rally at Butler Green park in Huntsville on Sunday afternoon.

“We are gathering because we do not support what is happening right now,” said organizer Megan Eller. “This is not the Alabama I know, and I’m mad because of how Alabama is being portrayed to the rest of the world. I refuse to be a part of that.”

Huntsville police just told me up to 1,000 have turned out for the #stoptheban #abortion rally in Huntsville Alabama pic.twitter.com/XncLhJMaqK — Anna Claire Vollers (@acvollers) May 19, 2019

The rally was originally scheduled for the Courthouse Square but was later moved after more than 1,000 RSVP’d to the event on Facebook.

A few anti-abortion protesters showed up and were heckled by some of the pro-abortion rights protesters.

During the rally, protesters chanted “my body my choice” and “this is what democracy looks like.”

Mobile

Mobile hosted two rallies, kicking off the weekend with a Saturday rally in Bienville Square and a march around downtown Mobile.

“It’s important for us to bring the community together,” said Katherine Brown, an organizer for the rally, which was hosted by the Mobile Bay Green Party and the Alabama Coalition for Reproductive Rights. A similar rally and march were held Sunday.

“People are upset,” she said. “People are hurt. They feel they have not been heard.”

Elsewhere

In the Shoals, protesters gathered at the post office in Florence for a Shoals-area March For Reproductive Freedom rally.

A rally in Anniston is planned for Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the corner of Highway 202 and Noble Street.

High school students from Auburn are organizing a “Stand Up, Let Your Voices Be Beard” rally at the State Capitol next Saturday at 10:30 a.m.