Marchers rallied in response to the Roe V Wade decision in America, June 26, 2022 in downtown Kelowna.

(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn women’s rights to abortion in America serves as a reminder of what can happen here, says the organizer of a pro-choice rally.

Roughly 100 Central Okanagan residents gathered in downtown Kelowna for a march this afternoon in response to the overturning of Roe V. Wade, leading to abortion bans in roughly half of the states.

Abortion is decriminalized in Canada because of a 1988 Supreme Court decision, but no bill has ever been passed to enshrine access into law.

Though the U.S. decision is sending "shock waves" everywhere, the legal ability to have an abortion in Canada is not under threat, said Joyce Arthur, executive director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, in an interview with The Canadian Press.

READ MORE: Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade; states can ban abortion

“Allowing that to happen is just not a reality that I want to live in. It’s not a reality that I want for my daughters or my son. This is something that needs to be taken care of now before it’s too late,” rally organizer Candace Banks said.

Resident Lindsay Heins decided to join the march to show support for women being impacted in the U.S. There’s a fear “that things tend to trickle up in Canada from the States,” she said.

There are only few clinics that offer abortion services in the region, so resident Liz Proulx said she attended to raise awareness about lack of access to the procedure.

Marchers rallied in response to the Roe V Wade decision in America, June 26, 2022 in downtown Kelowna.

(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)

Within the entire health region, there are three clinics officially providing surgical abortions in Kelowna, Nelson and Cranbrook, according to optionsforsexualhealth.org.

READ MORE: Access to abortion in Interior Health still has barriers, limitations

Marchers walked through City Park and along Bernard Avenue before ending at the Kelowna courthouse.

Marchers rallied in response to the Roe V Wade decision in America, June 26, 2022 in downtown Kelowna.

(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)

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