New York, May 24 (RHC)-- In the U.S., reproductive rights defenders around the country took to the streets for a day of action against abortion bans.

Hundreds of protests were organized to call out the wave of recent legislative attacks on reproductive rights, after Alabama passed a near-total abortion ban last week and states including Missouri, Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky and Ohio are attempting to enact different versions of highly restrictive bills.

Planned Parenthood President Dr. Leana Wen addressed crowds outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. She said: “First, Trump and Pence filled the courts with judges willing to give politicians power and control over women’s bodies. And second, they started a misinformation campaign, manufacturing crises to cover up for what they are really doing, which is, third, they passed extreme bans in order to overturn Roe vs. Wade."

In related news, more than 20 U.S. states and municipalities have sued the federal government to block a new rule that would allow healthcare providers to decline abortions and other services for patients based on moral or religious beliefs.

The Donald Trump administration announced the plans earlier this month, which are scheduled to go into effect in July. Under the new rules, transgender patients could also be subject to denial of care based on providers’ personal beliefs.

Meanwhile, some states are moving to protect access to abortions. In Vermont, the legislature has approved a new bill that would prohibit the government from interfering with the right to get abortions. A spokesperson for Republican Governor Phil Scott said he would not sign the bill, but it can still go into effect because of Vermont law.