MADISON, Wis. — Protesters filled a corner of Capitol Square in Madison to protest for abortion rights Tuesday evening. 

Tuesday was the first day of fallout from the leak of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion draft that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion almost 50 years ago. Protests were staged all over the country, including in Wisconsin. 

By Tuesday at 7 p.m., a sea of people crowded the State Street corner of the square. There were a lot of women, but also many men and even kids. 

People spoke on the microphone about the importance of abortion rights, and women dressed as handmaids walked through the state capitol building. 

Joette Peterson used to be more politically active, but hadn’t been out protesting in about five years. This draft decision changed that for her. 

“Freedom is our right to express ourselves, to make choices for our lives, for women to make choices for their bodies, for couples to make choices in their own bedrooms about what’s going to affect their lives,” Peterson said. 

Others had deeply personal reasons to be at the rally. 

“I’m a Type 1 diabetic. I’ve been Type 1 diabetic for 20 years. If I were to get pregnant, it could easily kill me,” said Carolyn Nave. “For me personally, the ability to have an abortion if I need one is incredibly important, and for millions of women across America.” 

“I’m past the age of having children, and I have two children that I love very much,” said Louise Mares. “But there were times in my life if I had gotten pregnant, it would’ve been a catastrophe. The kids I have now wouldn’t exist. I would instead have had a kid who would’ve grown up in poverty.”

Because the leaked document was a draft and not a final decision, the protests are likely to continue across the country. The final decision was set to be released in June.