M ay 1 2 , 2 0 2 2 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 5 , N o . 1 9
Protesters rally for abortion rights Leaked draft decision from Supreme Court ignites local outcry
By JAKE DRUKMAN jake@appenmedia.com
By JAKE DRUKMAN jake@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Protesters gathered outside the Forsyth County Courthouse on the afternoon of May 3 to protest a draft Supreme Court decision that would overturn abortion rights. On May 2, POLITICO published a nearly 100-page leaked draft decision from the Supreme Court that would overturn the landmark 1973 case Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed federal protection of abortion rights. Justice Samuel Alito penned this year’s decision, writing that Roe v. Wade “must be overruled” to “return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the authenticity of the draft decision and said the leak was “intended to undermine the integrity of our operations.” While some have focused on the nearly unprecedented leak, others have begun protesting what they call an attack on women’s rights. In largely conservative Forsyth County, this took the form of more than 10 protesters who held signs along the sidewalk of Ga. 20 advocating for abortion rights to be upheld. “Don’t like abortions? Just ignore them just like you ignore children in the foster care system,” one sign read.
City gets high marks from financial audit
► PAGE 3
County Commission holds heated debate over tattoo parlors
JAKE DRUKMAN/APPEN MEDIA
Protesters outside the Forsyth County Courthouse hold signs May 3 advocating for abortion rights. The protest was spurred by a leaked draft Supreme Court decision indicating the justices intend to repeal Roe v. Wade, which broadened women’s rights to seek abortions. Some passing cars honked their support. At least one driver yelled profanities at the protesters as he passed. The protesters held their signs high regardless. One protester, Mitzi McAdam, said she was in “total shock” when she saw
news of the leaked decision. “It’s kind of a dark time,” McAdam said. “It feels like we’re going very, very backwards. We’re just here to let people know that even in old conservative For-
Pro cowboys compete in rodeo showdown
Primary candidates weigh in on issues
► PAGE 4
See PROTESTORS, Page 3
► PAGES 10-11
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — What began as an effort by County Commissioner Laura Semanson to ease restrictions on tattoo parlors in Forsyth County drew heated debate May 5, with Semanson losing ground. The County Commission voted 4-1 to explicitly prohibit tattoo parlors from operating in any area of the county currently covered by an overlay district – a “character” area where specific zoning and aesthetic rules apply. All other portions of the county not within an overlay district restrict tattoo parlors to areas zoned industrial. Four of the county’s seven overlay districts already prohibit tattoo parlors. The May 5 vote added the remaining three. Semanson cast the lone dissent vote. The District 5 commissioner introduced the idea to relax restrictions on the businesses at the commission’s April 26 work session. She proposed removing tattoo parlors from the county’s “adult entertainment” classification, which restricts them
See TATTOOS, Page 3