Thousands of Activists Rally in Favor of Bill Legalizing Abortion in Argentina

Thousands of activists rallied in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, February 19, to campaign for a new bill to legalize abortion. Many attendees waved green scarves, a symbol of the country’s abortion rights movement, the Buenos Aires Times reported.

Two years after a similar bill was defeated by Argentinian lawmakers, activists have been spurred on by recent pledges from leftist President Alberto Fernandez to prioritize a new bill, according to local media.

The rally was held in front of the Argentinian National Congress, where in June 2018 a bill to legalize abortion was approved by the lower house, only to be defeated by conservatives in the senate amid pressure from the Catholic Church, the Buenos Aires Times said.

Al Jazeera reported that at least 80 events were scheduled across the country. Footage here shows thousands of activists from feminist groups attending the rally in Buenos Aires. Credit: @johannacervone · via Storyful