Rhode Island rallies and marches for abortion rights
By Uprise RI
Hundreds of people gathered at the Rhode Island
Supreme Court on South Main Street, holding signs and chanting.
Of special interest in Rhode Island is the passage of the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act (EACA) (S2549 / H7442), which would allow the state Medicaid program to cover abortion and allow coverage for abortion in state employee health plans.
Right now, leaders
in the Rhode Island General Assembly have no interest in passing this
bill, despite wide spread support from rank and file legislators.
“We’re mad as hell at a system that strips away our reproductive rights and further criminalizes pregnancy outcomes which is a direct result of white supremacy,” said Gretchen Raffa, Vice President, Public Policy, Advocacy and Organizing at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, who organized the event.
“Those of us who have worked in the abortion advocacy space were
not surprised when that opinion was leaked but we’re still reeling and feel
punch in the gut seeing our fears written out in that archaic language,” said
Dr. Anna, an OB-GYN and proud abortion provider.
“I’m here to say that they can try to make this illegal if they
want to, but we’re still going to do what we have to do to make sure that we
can live the lives that we want and make sure that our communities are then
care of,” said Kamika Ross, representing the Women’s Health and
Education Fund (WHEF). “And that when we do decide to have kids, that we
can raise them in an environment where we don’t have to be scared of them going
out.”
“We should
be doing more to make sure that when somebody faces an unintended pregnancy
that they are always the one that gets to decide whether they choose adoption,
abortion, become a parent, or add to their family and that they should have
access to safe, affordable medical care.”
Tammy Brown and Emma Gauthier, also Womxn Project
board members, told the crowd that they can help pass the EACA by being at
the Rhode Island State House of Thursday, May 19 at 4pm to attend the House
Finance Committee hearing that will take public comment on the
bill.
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| Democratic candidate for Governor Nellie Gorbea |
“We have 36 sponsors in the House. We have 21 sponsors in the
Senate, a clear majority,” said Senator Bridget Valverde (District
35, North Kingstown, Narragansett), speaking about the EACA. “but just like in
2019, with the Reproductive Privacy Act, we face opposition from legislators
who don’t want to take a vote on this bill. So just like in 2019, we need to
shake the State House. We need you to show up in person, and make noise…”
“Today the people who are on Medicaid and the people who have state health insurance plans cannot use their insurance coverage to access abortion care,” said Representative Liana Cassar (Democrat, District 66, Barrington, East Providence).
“I’m sorry that we have to be here right now. I’m sorry we have
to be here asking for the right to make our own choices. I’m sorry that there
are people in power who could afford an abortion,” said C.J. Miller with
the Rhode Island Queer PAC. “I’m sorry there are people in power who are
not compassionate, who don’t give a damn about any single one of you today,
including myself, a former foster youth!”
After C.J. spoke, he and Senator Tiara Mack (Democrat,
District 6, Providence) led the crowd on a march from the Rhode Island Supreme
Court to the Rhode Island State House.
The rally ended with a series of chants outside the Rhode Island State House.
Those interested in working for the passage of the EACA are encouraged to find out more from The Womxn Project here and attend the House Finance Committee hearing on Thursday, May 19 at 4pm at the State House.