Demonstrators protest for reproductive rights
Rally outside Ohio Statehouse draws more than 1,000
More than 1,000 demonstrators gathered in front of the Ohio Statehouse Saturday to protest Texas’ restrictive abortion law and demand reproductive rights for all women.
Holding signs that read “Stop the war on women,” “Not your body, not your decision” and “It’s time to ovary-act,” protesters stood in the midday heat, cheering for speakers who decried antiabortion bills across the country and asked Ohio lawmakers to better protect women and other marginalized communities.
Organizers put large pieces of paper below the Statehouse steps for people to write down their
demands for Ohio legislators during the noon event. Besides affordable and accessible abortion services, participants also requested things like better healthcare policies and an end to partisan gerrymandering.
After the initial rally, demonstrators marched along South High Street, East Main Street, and South Fourth Street before returning to the Statehouse for a voter registration drive and more speakers.
The Rally for Abortion Justice in Downtown Columbus was part of the 2021 Women’s March. The main rally was held Saturday at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. More than 600 marches took place in cities throughout the United States, CNN reported.
While organizations such as Planned Parenthood sent speakers to support the Columbus rally, it was a group of volunteer activists who put the event together. Jes Stein, a 32-year-old student at Columbus State Community College, said that when she found out that there was no local march planned, she reached out to the Women’s March to host the Columbus rally along with a few other women activists.
“When I found out about the Texas law, I was scared and angry because I think of all the women who have hopes and dreams that will be crushed by this ban,” Stein told the Dispatch. “They forget that pro-choice also means the right to choose to become a mother. And what infuriates me is if you can’t trust us to choose, how can you trust us to be parents?”
Last month, the most restrictive abortion law in the country to date went into effect in Texas. It banned abortions after cardiac activity is detected, which usually happens after six weeks, before some even know that they are pregnant. There are no exceptions for survivors of incest and rape. Protestors said they fear that other states might follow suit.
“I want to make a presence at the Statehouse to show that the community doesn’t want a copying of the Texas law here in Ohio,” said Emily Smith, a 27year-old law student who drove from
Dayton to attend the rally. “It’s already too difficult for women to access abortion. We can’t put more burden on women who could really use that access.”
Morgan Harper, a Columbus native and Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, was one of the speakers, and she said advocating for a woman’s right to choose has always been at the forefront for her.
“All of us are part of an ongoing fight for equal rights, but these rights are under attack,” Harper said. “Backward decisions are making a mockery of our democracy. These decisions will impact Black people, people of color, the working class more than anyone.”
Cathy Devoe, 38, of Grove City, brought her daughters, 3 and 5, to the rally, which also included a small number of counter-demonstrators carrying signs. She said she wanted her kids to hear about the issue from an early age.
“We experience violence a lot when we’re women, and we’re scared to speak up,” she said. “So I think having them see from a young age that it’s OK to speak up and fight for what you believe in is good for them.”
Yilun Cheng is a Report for America corps member and covers immigration issues for the Dispatch. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation at https://bit.ly/3fnsgaz. ycheng@dispatch.com @Chengyilun