Hatters of all ages and gender identities took part in a rally outside Medicine Hat city hall Monday, to protest the U.S. Supreme Court's overruling of Roe v. Wade.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Hatters expressed solidarity with Americans affected by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade at a rally outside city hall Monday evening.
Rally organizers Michelle Marshall, Lindsay Poloni and Sophie Stacey began planning the event last week in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision, which they say removes the autonomy of a pregnant person and disregards potential risks to their health and life.
“The overturn of Roe v. Wade, it was such a blow to human rights,” Marshall told the News. “And it’s just not something we can stand by and watch happen.”
The topic of abortion is personal for Marshall, who had to undergo an abortion procedure several years ago due to health risks.
“People are pretty quick to throw abortion and unwanted pregnancies together but that’s actually not the case,” Marshall said. “The procedures are vital for women’s health care (and) there’s a lot of different conditions which require that type of health care.”
Though the overruling does not affect Canadian abortion laws, Marshall, Poloni and Stacey feel its imperative for individuals around the world to speak out against the decision, while also bringing to the forefront concerns over the accessibility of abortions in Canada and raising awareness about such.
“Abortions are not accessible for everyone,” said Poloni. “If you live in Indigenous communities or northern or remote communities it is not accessible to travel to larger cities. And if you are low income, how would you get to (a larger city) to get that? So it’s not illegal; it’s just not always an option for every person in Canada.”
A diverse group of approximately 75 Hatters was present as the rally kicked off at 6 p.m. The group garnered several honks of support by passing by cars with their chants of ‘My body, my choice’ and brightly coloured signs.
Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society executive director Natasha Carvalho was one of the many Hatters in attendance.
“This just feels like such an important thing to be at; to rally with our sisters in the U.S,” Carvalho said. “And just to show some solidarity and support. I’m sad we’re here and having to do this all over again, because we did it (in the past). But here we are.
“I shared a post on social media today which said, ‘How can we be celebrating Independence Day when independence has been taken away from most of the people in America?'”
Discussion about the meaning of personal freedom, ally attendee Lisa Bamhare believes, is inseparable from the topic of abortion.
“It’s not so much about abortion, as about choice,” Bamhare said. “(The Supreme Court’s decision) is taking away women’s right to choose what they’re doing with their bodies and how their lives will go.”
Several individuals in attendance expressed concern over whether the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision might someday influence Canadian abortion rules.
“We live in a great country with great rights but that stuff has a trickle-down effect,” Carvalho said. “What if it starts coming here? And I know we hear politicians saying it would never go that way, but it’s still just across the border. It’s terrifying because it’s our bodies.”
Despite holding the rally at city hall, organizers and attendees were not asking for input from local officials; but rather trying to gather concerned community members in a central location. Nevertheless, Coun. Shila Sharps did come out and address the group, saying she too worries about the impact such a decision has on lives of individuals.
