Carrying “Bans off Our Bodies” signs and calling for reproductive freedom, approximately 1,000 people crowded into the courtyard of the Bucks County Administration Building in the center of Doylestown Borough Sunday.
With the threat of a federal law protecting a woman’s right to choose being ended by the U.S. Supreme Court next month, hundreds of thousands of women, men and children protested across the country last weekend. In Doylestown, a wide range of activists and organizations gathered to demand the rights of women be upheld.
The chant, “We will not back down,” could be heard across the area, as people of all ages and genders demanded a woman’s right to legal, safe abortions be protected by both the Supreme Court and Pennsylvania lawmakers.
State attorney general and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro addressed the enthusiastic crowd, saying, “I will always stand on the side of your reproductive rights.”
With the primary election now over, and the general election approaching in November, Shapiro said, “Abortion rights are on the ballot … freedom is on the ballot. The truth is, the power is in your hands. Don’t be without hope,” he told a cheering audience.
Sunghee Kim, a Buckingham resident, said she was pleased to see so many people coming out to advocate for women’s health.
“I think of the less privileged women, with little resources and those with rare diseases, those women whose health is in jeopardy,” she said. “We have to vote people into office who will take action.”
A Warminster woman said the protest was her second in Doylestown. “I am a grandmother,” said Gail Malinowski, “I cannot imagine my grandchildren having fewer rights than I did.”
Stressing the importance of “body autonomy for men and women,” Malinowski said, “we have to vote for pro-choice candidates.” And, she added, (ultra-conservatives) will get rid of trans rights and gay marriage,” if allowed to.
Matt Arnoff, a 26-year-old man from Pipersville, said he was adopted at birth by the doctor who delivered him in West Virginia. “I lucked out. I count my blessings every day.”
And, while he was adopted, Arnoff said, “Everyone should have the option to choose. No one should be forced. It’s not my right to decide what a woman should do.”
Twenty-one-year-old Megan Matthews attended the rally with her mother. “Before the leak, I didn’t think it would be overturned,” she said referring to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that said a woman’s right to an abortion is protected under the Constitution’s 14th amendment and its right to privacy clause. A leak draft of the potential decision to overturn that ruling came out May 11.
Criminalizing abortion, said Matthews, is not only wrong for women, it exacerbates domestic abuse, child abuse and poverty.
“The separation of church and state is eroding,” said Cindy Paulits, of Lansdale, “and that is an important part of protecting our democracy.”
Similar rallies are expected in the coming weeks, organizers said.
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