On October 2, hundreds of people in Toledo, and thousands of others across every state across the United States, will rally in support of women’s reproductive rights as part of the Women’s March’s Mobilize and Defend movement. In 2017, Women’s March was formed to “harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change”, according to their mission statement.
Each year, the group gained more and more followers who vocally fought for various agendas. Today, Women’s March is accompanied by more than 90 other organizations to peacefully mobilize and defend their personal right to make their own reproductive decisions.
Here in Toledo, hundreds of people are expected to do just that, voicing their opposition ahead of the October 4 Supreme Court case hearing: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health.
The Background
According to the Supreme Court agenda, the case will determine if abortions are considered unconstitutional and if abortion clinics can foster late-term abortions, ultimately overturning Roe v. Wade.
The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case was initially introduced in 2018 when the Governor of Mississippi signed a bill that banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. However, within hours of that ruling, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the last remaining clinic and abortion facility in Mississippi, filed a complaint and a request for a temporary restraining order to block the ban.
Furthermore, it was just recently announced that Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that would prohibit Texas abortions as early as six weeks after conception.
“It seems to be crucial to let the country know that it is unacceptable to have [control of] our own bodies taken away, and it is important that the stigma around having an abortion is removed,” says Katie Kuhn, a local citizen who is supporting Women’s March.
Katie is one of over 600 other local residents who are a part of the Mobilize and Defend Toledo Facebook page, providing an outlet for people to share their thoughts and concerns about the October 2 event and women’s abortion rights.
How Can I get Involved?
If you’d like to be a part of this movement, you can RSVP by here. Registration is required to show up. You can also take an online pledge to support women’s reproductive rights here.
The Toledo march will take place at the former Elder Beerman location on Secor Road at 2 p.m. on October 2. Katie says signs are encouraged and masks are recommended, though not required. You are also asked to wear some shade of pink.
“If this is your first time speaking out about this issue or attending an event like this, you will probably be surprised to find out how many people have considered an abortion,” says Katie. “It’s crucial that this service remains safe and accessible,” she adds.
You can find any updates about the October 2 march by visiting the aforementioned Toledo-based Facebook page.
If you’d like to contact your local officials regarding reproductive rights, you can express your concerns and complaints, click here.
