photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Several hundred students at Lawrence High left classes at 11 a.m Tuesday, May 17, 2022, to rally against possible changes to abortion law and other civil rights. Students lined portions of 19th and Louisiana streets. A similar rally took place at Free State High, where students rallied along portions of West Sixth Street.

Students at both Lawrence high schools walked out of class Tuesday morning to support reproductive choice and other civil rights that they feel are under serious attack.

Hundreds of students from Lawrence High School and Free State High School rallied near their respective schools in central and west Lawrence.

In a Facebook message, posted before the event, students from both schools said the rally would consist of “raising our voices against the present political state right now in Kansas.” They specifically mentioned “abortion rights, possible loss of birth control and LGBTQ rights.”

“What happens today will affect us tomorrow; this is our future,” the post read.

The local marches follow recent marches across the nation in the wake of a leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion indicating that the court intends to overturn the 50-year-old Roe v. Wade case, long considered a landmark ruling for women’s rights that enshrined reproductive choice in the U.S. Constitution.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Several hundred students at Lawrence High School left classes at 11 a.m Tuesday, May 17, 2022, to rally against possible changes to abortion law. Students lined portions of 19th and Louisiana streets. A similar rally took place at Free State High, where students rallied along portions of West Sixth Street.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Several hundred students at Lawrence High School left classes at 11 a.m Tuesday, May 17, 2022, to rally against possible changes to abortion law. Students lined portions of 19th and Louisiana streets. A similar rally took place at Free State High, where students rallied along portions of West Sixth Street.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Several hundred students at Lawrence High left classes at 11 a.m Tuesday, May 17, 2022, to rally against possible changes to abortion law and other civil rights. Students lined portions of 19th and Louisiana streets. A similar rally took place at Free State High, where students rallied along portions of West Sixth Street.

photo by: Cynthia Hernandez/Journal-World

Free State High School students rally for civil rights near their school, 4700 Overland Drive, Tuesday morning, May 17, 2022. Lawrence High students rallied across town at the same time.

photo by: Cynthia Hernandez/Journal-World

Free State High School students rally for civil rights near their school, 4700 Overland Drive, Tuesday morning, May 17, 2022. Lawrence High students rallied across town at the same time.

photo by: Cynthia Hernandez/Journal-World

Free State High School students rally for civil rights near their school, 4700 Overland Drive, Tuesday morning, May 17, 2022. Lawrence High students rallied across town at the same time.

photo by: Cynthia Hernandez/Journal-World

Free State High School students rally for civil rights near their school, 4700 Overland Drive, Tuesday morning, May 17, 2022. Lawrence High students rallied across town at the same time.