Hello 31

Dear Readers,
Reproductive Rights are officially under attack again! We need to get involved!

 
International Women’s Day  
 
Riseup4AbortionRights.Org sponsored the International Women’s Day rally and march at Harvard Square on March 8th. A group of fifty college students and seasoned protestors gathered to oppose the Supreme Court’s recent rulings on abortion rights and the entire flock of congressional Republicans who voted against the Women’s Health Protection Act in 2021/2022.
 
The seasoned protesters called out the women and men who fought this fight 50 years ago, as they are now tired and reduced to writing letters and sending money. I wanted to shout back: “We won 50 years ago with Roe and 30 years ago with Casey and we marched again in Washington DC with our daughters in 2004. We cannot believe this is happening again!” But I was there to see the next generation in action. 
 
The young protesters described the threat to abortion rights as sexist, racist and fascist. They didn’t hold back: “Every 68 seconds a woman is raped in the US. Pornography is a $15 billion dollar business that denigrates and demoralizes women. Every year hundreds of thousands of women and victims are forced into sex trafficking. That is the life that powerful men tolerate for women and girls. In the name of humanity we refuse to accept this environment of gender-based violence.” 
 
Most people reading this essay do not have to deal with threatening acts like these in our daily lives, and many of us live in a state where access to abortion is protected, regardless of the actions of the Supreme Court or Congress. These demonstrators are mobilizing against attacks aimed mainly at young and low-income victims and reproductive rights.  
 
Three weeks ago, Columbia became the latest country in Latin America to legalize or decriminalize abortion medical procedures, following Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Guyana, and Mexico. The lawsuit filed in Columbia focused on low-income women who could not afford illegal abortions in that country or in a neighboring country.
 
The United States is moving in the opposite direction. The Supreme Court is considering a case this term that would either reverse Roe v. Wade or reduce safe legal abortions to 15 weeks. Most women know that they are pregnant by 15 weeks, but low-income women usually need time to find a clinic, a date when they are free from work, possibly need childcare, etc. 
 
On International Women’s Day, we wore green scarves, which have become a common symbol of women’s rights, as we marched along Mass Ave and shouted chants. These were  new to me: 
 
Not the Church, Not the State
Women must Decide Their fate!
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Abortion on Demand, This is Why:
Women Hold Up Half the Sky!
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Abortion on Demand!
And Without Apology!
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Into the Street!
Abortion Stays Legal!
 
 
 
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
 
SATURDAY APRIL 9TH AT 2:00PM IN COPLEY SQ, BOSTON, WILL BE THE NEXT MARCH AND RALLY.
 
 
Thanks for reading. Let me know in comments if you’re interested in marching in the streets for the next generation!