Hundreds of protesters marched through Downtown Long Beach on October 2 to demand the protection of women’s reproductive rights in light of the recent abortion ban in Texas.
The march was one of over 600 that were organized across the country in response to Texas’ Senate Bill 8 (SB8), which prohibits women from having an abortion after six weeks. The Supreme Court declined to take action to stop the law from taking effect.
Protesters marched from Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse to Harvey Milk Promenade Park, where a rally was held with guest speakers from local organizations.
Mayor Robert Garcia, vice mayor Rex Richardson, LBCC trustee Sunny Zia, California senator Lena Gonzalez, and city council members Cindy Allen and Mary Zendejas were also in attendance.
“I believe in women. I believe in our collective power, in our power and ability to change things together,” said Zendejas.
Zendejas continued, “This is not about pro-life. To me, pro-life would be helping women who have children get the relief they need so that their children can have a home and a healthy enviroment to live in. … What this is about is taking away a woman’s rights and I am not okay with that. We are not okay with that.”
Atalie Oliva of Planned Parenthood shared her experience of getting an abortion with the crowd of attendees.
“It was 10 years ago that I found out I was pregnant at only five weeks. … It was two months after I graduated from high school and I was young, broke, and scared about what was happening to my body,” said Oliva.
Oliva continued, “I’m a Latina who grew up in a conservative household, where abortion was not an option. When my mother told my abuela that she was pregnant at 19, my grandmother replied with, ‘me vas a parir ese hijo’, which translates to, ‘you’re going to have that kid’”.
Oliva said seeing her family doctor was not an option and she instead received assistance from Planned Parenthood.
“I find myself feeling connected with all those in Texas, who find themselves in the same position as I was. I would only have one week to make a life altering decision. I wish for them and women around the world to have the same access to resources and support that I did,” said Oliva.
Protester June Irwin marched for women’s reproductive rights in New York in the 1970s and joined the rally in Long Beach.
“When I marched back in the ‘70s, it was just an abortion issue. Now it’s about more basic human rights,” said Irwin. “Back then, there wasn’t such a division in the country, not like it is today.”
Irwin was previously involved in women’s activist groups and has plans to rejoin because of the recent anti-abortion law passed in Texas.
Irwin also argues that the law is a threat to Roe V. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that gave women the right to legally have an abortion.
“If we lose Roe V. Wade, what are we going to do? That is what really terrifies me,” said Irwin.
Sheila Bates of Black Lives Matter Long Beach was one of the various community organizers who addressed the crowd of protesters at the rally.
“This is the fight that our grandmothers fought. … We should not have to be here and yet here we are. But we will absolutely do it differently this time,” said Bates. “Reproductive justice is about more than just birth control and abortion access, and it’s not strictly a women’s issue.”
Bates listed forced hysterectomies, families torn apart by the prison system and at the U.S. border, and high rates of death among Black infants and mothers as reproductive justice issues.
“Here in Los Angeles, 1 in 5 birthing black people die within one year of child birth, compared to 1 in 3 white women. … Black infants die at a rate of nearly 2.5 times that of white infants. … Black women and Black people have never had full rights to our bodies or our babies, from slavery to now,” said Bates.
Vin Olefer from Democratic Socialists of Long Beach also spoke to the crowd of protesters.
“We have refused to be defeated by our political foes and those who wish to control our lives and control our bodies. … Let us choose to continue coming together,” said Olefer.
The Supreme Court will begin a new term on Monday, October 4. The justices are scheduled to hear a case regarding a Mississippi law that prohibits abortions after 15 weeks.
