The rallies come nearly a week after the southern state of Alabama passed the country's toughest ban, prohibiting abortion in all cases -- even rape and incest -- unless the mother's life is at risk.

Alabama is among more than a dozen states which have adopted laws banning or drastically curtailing access to abortion.

Even some of the lawmakers in those states have admitted that their end goal is to put the issue -- one of the most divisive in the United States -- back before the nation's high court.

"I feel there is a real war on women in this country," said 63-year-old Danna Ives-Kimpel, who was one of hundreds of protesters who gathered outside the Supreme Court in Washington.

They urged the nine justices inside to protect the landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, which enshrined the right to abortion up to the point that the fetus is viable outside the womb, about 24 weeks.

"It would be absolutely devastating" if the ruling were overturned, said Michaela Masson, a 25-year-old working in government affairs in the US capital.

Highlighting the key role the issue could play in the 2020 presidential elections, several Democrats vying to take on President Donald Trump including Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar appeared at the rally.

Protests also were held in New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, Georgia.

Others were planned in the South, the conservative "Bible Belt" that includes Alabama.

"Abortion access is under attack," said the powerful American Civil Liberties Union, an organiser of Tuesday's demonstrations.

"Today's the day we take to the streets to defend reproductive freedom. Our dissent is powerful. Our voices are powerful," the group said on Twitter.

FRANCE 24