When Megan Eller began coordinating a rally opposing Alabama’s new abortion ban law, she was expecting that it might draw a handful of people “standing outside the courthouse to shout.”

But in the past couple of days, the event has grown in size and scope. Now Eller anticipates close to 4,000 people – and maybe more – showing up for a 4-6 p.m. rally Sunday at Butler Green at Campus 805.

“I’m surprised, but I’m not surprised,” said Eller, who is helping assist in relocating the event from outside the Madison County Courthouse in downtown Huntsville to a public park that can accommodate a much larger crowd.

“I know that some of the people feel the same as I do, but I wasn’t expecting so many people willing to speak up,” said Eller. “So many people would rather keep their opinions to themselves. I am surprised by how much support we really do have.”

The event is called “My Body, My Choice” and is one of handful of organized activities happening in four Alabama cities this weekend in protest against the signing of the “Alabama Human Life Protection Act” or HB314, which virtually outlaws abortion in Alabama and is viewed as the nation’s strictest law against the procedure.

The first rally kicks off from 5-7 p.m. tonight at Bienville Square in downtown Mobile and is hosted by the Mobile Bay Green Party. The “Protest Against the Abortion Ban” encourages attendees to wear black. A similar rally will take place at the same location at 12 p.m. Sunday.

The Huntsville rally was originally created in solidarity with a march starting at 4 p.m. at the Court Square Fountain in Montgomery.

In Birmingham, “A March for Reproductive Freedom,” will be held starting at 6 p.m. at the 17th Street N and 5th Avenue N corner of Kelly Ingram Park. A rally will take place immediately following the march inside the pavilion at Kelly Ingram Park.

The event also coincides with a rally in support of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. But the organizers say that the two rallies are unrelated to each other.

Speakers to the Birmingham event include the following: Erica Star Robbins, Resist Birmingham; Satura Dudley, March For Our Lives; Rebecca Seung-Bickley, ACLU Communications Director in Alabama; Sheila Tyson, Jefferson County Commissioner; and special guest Shante Wolfe-Sisson, BLK Pearl.

Eller said the rallies aren’t aimed at making immediate changes to HB314, which was signed by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday.

She said she hopes the events help convey a message to “the rest of the world” that a good number of Alabama residents don’t support the measure.

“This is a small step toward changing the bill and making that process happen,” said Eller. “But it’s a big step in letting the rest of the world know we don’t support what is happening.”

Rallies will be held elsewhere next week. A “Protest for Reproductive Freedom” event will take place from 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the corner of Highway 202 and Noble Street in Anniston. Auburn High School students are hosting a “Stand Up, Let Your Voices Heard” rally at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, outside the Capitol building in Montgomery.