They're back and they are pissed off.
Who? The women by
the millions who launched the resistance the day after pitiful
inauguration of the former Resident of the White House and his
minions in Congress, state capitols, and local
government in January 2017. That led
directly to women seeking election at every level, the Blue
Wave election of 2020 that re-took the House of Representatives and launched
the powerful new voice of the Squad, and in no small measure mobilized
the voters who ousted the scum-bag-in-chief. They also amplified the Me Too
movement and inspired other resistance movements to take to the streets
in unprecedented numbers.
Despite
these successes, Federal courts were stacked against them
and the Supreme Court now has a majority hostile to women, their bodily
autonomy, and rights. Enabled
by gerrymandering, voter suppression schemes, deep pockets
funding Astro turf organizations and candidates, and MAGA delusional
madness, Red State governors and legislatures have launched relentless
attacks on abortion rights and women’s rights to control their own
bodies and lives. The recent Texas
law which the Supremes allowed to go into effect circumvented
the established right to abortions under the Roe v Wade decision
by placing a civil bounty of $1000 on anyone who aids an abortion
in any way to be paid by the state for each successful civil suit brought
against them. More than a dozen states
are ginning up copycat laws.
So this
fall’s iteration of the Women’s March which will be held today in
Washington, D.C. with more than 650 sister marches around
the county will Rally for Abortion Justice. It should be the largest single-day
mobilization dedicated to abortion justice and reproductive freedom in
history.
A call
to march posted by one of the March’s chief sponsoring
organizations Planned Parenthood stated:
On October 2, we’re
marching in every single state ahead of the Supreme Court reconvening on
October 4. Women’s March and more than 90 other organizations, including National
Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Planned Parenthood, SHERO
Mississippi, Mississippi in Action, Access Reproductive
Care-Southeast, The Frontline, Working Families Party, SisterSong,
[and the Unitarian Universalist Association] are organizing a national call to mobilize and
defend our reproductive rights.
Abortion has never
been fully accessible, but we are at the risk of losing our reproductive
freedom completely. The call to action is clear, and urgent. The relentless
attacks from Texas to Mississippi are ramping up quickly. Anti-choice
extremists have a deep desire to return to a time when there was more clear and
effective domination and control over queer and trans folks, women, and people
of color; they want to revive those old values and societal norms to the point
of re-acceptance. The authoritarian agenda of reproductive control is fueled by
misogyny and racism - and we must challenge it, together.
On October 2,
we’re going to send the Supreme Court and lawmakers across the country a clear,
unified message. The attack on our reproductive rights will not be tolerated.
We have this
opportunity to invite all the people that know us and love us into this
important movement and work united as we build something better for our
families and communities. As a small powerful group tries to come for our human
rights over and over again, we’ll never let go of our vision of reproductive
justice; for unfettered abortion access and everything we need to support and
grow our families to thrive and live healthy lives.
The
Washington March will begin at noon at Freedom Plaza, 1455
Pennsylvania Ave NW and march to the steps of the United States
Supreme Court. In Chicago the March
to Defend Abortion Access will begin at 11:30 at the Daley Center,
50 West Washington Street.
Closer
to home for those of us in McHenry County the Rally for Rights will
be held on Woodstock Square at 2:30 pm, rain or shine. Participants are asked to mask up and
come with suitable rain gear. Members
and friend of the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry
will be there. Look for the TOL
banner if you want to march with us.
The local March is organized by the Women’s March Woodstock, McHenry County NOW, Democratic Women
and other progressive organizations.
Don’t
be surprised if today’s uprising is as effective at the
first one, pink pussy hats or no.
Part of the Tree of Life UU contingent at the Chicago
Women’s March in 2018, Carol Alfus (back to camera), Terry Kappel, Karen Dees
Meyer, Marcia Johnson, Laura Zalnis, Judy Stettner, the Old Man,and
Katie Mikkelson. Photo by Linda Di. |
It
has been one of the honors of my life to be able to attend
and support in Chicago and Woodstock as a male ally since the beginning. After the second Women’s March in
Chicago in January 2018 I dared write:
Today, I Am a Woman
After the Chicago Women’s March
January 20, 2018
Today, I am a woman—
a
put-a-bag-on-her-head-woman,
a never hit
on by Cosby, Weinstein, or Trump woman,
a lumbering
lummox of a lady,
a barren
womb non-breeder,
a
hairy-legged horror,
a gawky,
graceless girl,
a
disappointment all around.
But Sisters, today, I am a woman—
if you will
have me.
Tomorrow I will be just another prick.
—Patrick
Murfin
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