By Etta Washburn, Staff Editor
On October 2, residents of Media, PA, and traveling protestors alike gathered outside the Delaware County Courthouse to rally for reproductive rights. The protest was organized by PA Indivisible and The New Pennsylvania Project and attended by several youth activist groups, including the Pennsylvania branch of the Young Feminist National Committee and the Bryn Mawr College Feminist Coalition (or “Fem-Co”), as well as residents of the town.
“This event, in particular, we really feel is an issue for the next generation,” said Lisa Goldstein, one of the organizers of the rally. “We are hoping that by supporting younger women in being involved, that [they] will pick up the torch.”
The protest started at 6 p.m. and featured speeches from activists and politicians. Chris Rabb, who represents the 200th District in Pennsylvania House of Representatives, urged men to find their place in the fight for reproductive rights. “I will admit that women are leading this, as they should be, but there is a role for the rest of us. It’s to follow. There is no dishonor in following wise human beings. I am proud to follow you.”
Dr. Nina Ahman, former Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement and Auditor General candidate, also spoke passionately about the need for abortion access, saying “restrictions disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous and Latinx individuals, people with low incomes, LGBTQ people, young people, people with disabilities, immigrants and people in rural areas.” She was also the only speaker to acknowledge trans and non-binary people’s struggle for reproductive rights: “Non-binary and trans men need the same access to abortion care that a cis woman does, but their road has many more hurdles.”
In addition to reproductive health access, the Media rally focused intensely on voter registration, in particular, the crucial midterm elections coming up in Pennsylvania and other swing states in 2022. “What I’ve become incredibly aware of over the last four years is that what matters is winning elections,” said Goldstein, when asked about the importance of voting in the fight for reproductive freedom. “In Pennsylvania, despite the fact that our state is fairly evenly divided, our legislature is overwhelmingly Republican. Next year, in 2022 there will be a governor’s race. If a Republican were to win the governor’s race, they would sign a law just like the Texas bill.” The bill Goldstein is referring to is the Texas Heartbeat Act, which prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, usually about six weeks into a pregnancy.
Dr. Ahman also voiced the importance of voting in the midterm: “Vote for pro-choice candidates who work at the intersection of gender race and economic class. We have critical midterm elections coming up in 2022. We need to elect a Senate that will support our agenda, strengthen our House with members who believe in our agenda, vote because our lives depend on it.”
Young people have a tremendous amount of power in deciding the future of abortion rights. Not only are we more likely to support the legalization of abortion in all or most cases, we are also one of the most active voting blocks in generations. Simon Rosenberg, president of NDN and the New Policy Institute, states that “53% to 55% of registered 18 to 29-year-olds appear to have voted. That may be the highest ever recorded in the modern era of politics.” Our power as a group allows us to shape legislation moving forward. Together, we can work to protect our more vulnerable populations and ensure reproductive healthcare for all.
