Hundreds of Women's March activists rally for abortion rights outside White House

WASHINGTON (WJLA) — A group of abortion rights activists protested at the White House Saturday afternoon and risked arrest during a sit-in.

The Women's March rallied in Washington D.C., with leaders saying they must do everything to get President Joe Biden to protect abortion rights. They said Biden's executive order is not enough.

Right now, we will not be silent. We all know that we're loud. We're gonna stand up and fight back and be ungovernable," Women’s March Executive Director Rachel O’Leary Carmona said.

WARNING: Explicit language possible during speeches and on campaign signs.

In her speech, Carmona addressed both sides of the aisle.

To the Democrats, it's past time to stop being polite. Past time," Carmona said. "We have voted. We have marched. We raised our voices we put you in office to lead, so lead."

To Republicans, she said, "We're coming for you at the ballot box."

Hundreds of people gathered to listen to speakers before they marched to the White House for a sit-in.

Aside from Carmona, a list of pro-abortion speakers included the following:

Tamika Middleton, Women’s March Managing Director

• Hope Khodaei
• Kiki Green
• Paris Hatcher
• Elidia Caballero
• Sophia Armen
• Shaunna Thomas

While a permit notes the group does not plan to take part in civil disobedience, the group’s website for the event offers people the option to express interest in risking arrest and undergoing training prior to the event.

Kelly Perry, an activist from Colorado, said she risked arrest.

"I am extremely nervous and I have gotten sick many times this morning," Perry said.

As part of what they’re calling the “Summer of Rage,” the organization is calling for more executive action to protect abortion.

We will not be silent. We will not be ignored. And we will not let politicians play games with our lives and our futures. If our leaders won't take action, we will,” the group noted on its website.

While the rally was underway, a small group of people who oppose abortion protested with signs that noted, "abortion is murder."

The biggest lie out there is that abortion is good for women," said Jeanne Mancini, who is the President of March For Life.

Mancini said she was "overwhelmed" with joy on the day when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating constitutional rights to abortion.

"One thing that has been so disheartening to me is the ominous messaging and fearmongering, which can be dangerous for women right now," Mancini said. "Every single state law that has passed a trigger law has within it an exception in the case of the life of a mother so if the mother in a very rare scenario where the mom is having a life threatening issue and she can die without an abortion procedure, she can absolutely receive that abortion procedure, there is no state in our country that does not allow that period."