100 Rally For Abortion Rights

Maya McFadden Photo

Protestors at courthouse Tuesday.

In the wake of a reported pending U.S. Supreme Court decision to outlaw Roe v. Wade, New Haven activist are demanding that the nation follow in the footsteps of countries like Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico where abortion is a protected human right. 

Those cries from protesters echoed over the New Haven Green Tuesday during a city rally calling for Safe and Legal Abortion and Bans Off Our Bodies” organized by Unidad Latina en Acción (ULA), Workers’ Voice CT, and Socialist Revolution. 

More than 100 demonstrators stood on the steps of the federal courthouse on 141 Church St. to protest the recent draft of a majority opinion written by conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito suggesting that the nation strike down Roe, which established a federal constitutional right to an abortion. If the court issues that decision in final form, abortion will become largely illegal or access greatly restricted in states throughout the nation.

Megan Fountain and Rosalba Montoya with megaphones.

Leading the speaking program were ULA organizers Rosalba Montoya, Megan Fountain, and Nayeli Garcia. 

The rally leaders reminded the crowd of the mass protests in Poland, Ireland, Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico in recent years that resulted in laws allowing safe access to abortions for all. 

Together the crowd chanted; 

Abortion is a human right”
Health care is a human right”
Mi cuerpo, mi decisión” (“My body, my choice”)
What do we want? Free abortion. When do we want it? Now!”

Speakers included a pro-choice gynecologist,” nursing students, and others, some of whom told stories about being assaulted and needing to get an abortion as a result. Dozens took the microphone one by one in support of free, safe, and legal abortion for their friends and families. 

Party for Socialism and Liberation member Kirill Staklo took the mic to add that we need a new system that defends people’s human rights.”

And in the state of Connecticut, where we might feel safe, this [decision], if it happens the way that it is threatening to be happening, sets a very dangerous president for anybody who care about privacy and anybody who cares about bodily autonomy,” Staklo added. No Supreme Court is supreme enough to be supreme over the law of the people.”

Crowd members held signs reading Stay out of my uterus” and Keep your laws off my body.” 

When we say banning abortion, what we’re actually saying is forced birth,” argued one speaker. She added that as a nursing student she has seen people get abortions because they weren’t taught sex education or lacked access to birth control. 

What the hell party wants to have a 13-year-old girl give birth to their father’s baby? What the fuck is up with that?” said another speaker.

One 70-year-old speaker took the mic to share that 50 years ago she had an illegal abortion. Let me tell you, it was hell,” she said. Believe me. I had to have it.” She said she traveled to Nebraska to get the procedure and said she was sexually molested by the abortionist.

We can’t go back to women dying with hangers,” she said. 

After an hour of attendees taking the microphone to voice their support for abortion rights and personal experiences with abortion the crowd took it to the streets and marched to Yale’s Cross Campus.

Protestors march.

Another speaker named Ponce said she use to be pro-life” and at age 10 would stand outside of Planned Parenthood protesting with her parents and church that life is a gift.”

That changed when she was assaulted, she said.

When I was assaulted, where was the church for me when I needed them?” she said. They only care about life in the imagination. What happens to the children whenever they’re left and they’re put into the foster system?”

Is my life not as precious as those life in the womb?” Ponce said. 

Watch some speeches in the video below. 

Tags:

Sign up for our morning newsletter

Don't want to miss a single Independent article? Sign up for our daily email newsletter! Click here for more info.


Post a Comment

Commenting has closed for this entry

Comments

Avatar for alluneedtoknow

Avatar for Etrigan

Avatar for 1644

Avatar for Heather C.

Avatar for THREEFIFTHS

Avatar for Heather C.

Avatar for Callisto

Avatar for THREEFIFTHS

Avatar for ethanjrt

Avatar for Trini_Digital

Avatar for 776836

Avatar for Trini_Digital

Avatar for robn

Avatar for New Haven Urbanism

Avatar for Trini_Digital

Avatar for owen@large

Avatar for THREEFIFTHS

Avatar for tedlittleford

Avatar for Trini_Digital

Avatar for FromtheEastside

Avatar for Fitzy14

Avatar for 1644

Avatar for 776836

Avatar for Callisto

Avatar for FromtheEastside

Avatar for 1644

Avatar for ethanjrt

Avatar for 1644

Avatar for ethanjrt

Avatar for RetiredGuy

Avatar for cjd281

Avatar for 1644

Avatar for cjd281

Avatar for 776836