SWAMPSCOTT — A vigil held at Monument Square Friday evening served as an opportunity for people across the region to “grieve, process, get loud, and focus on the work we have to do next,” organizers said, in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed a right to abortion nationwide.
At the vigil, many held up signs, including one that read “mind your own uterus.” One attendee held up a flag depicting a rainbow, a uterus decorated with flowers, and stars representing the 50 states as traffic zoomed by on Humphrey Street.
The gathering was organized by Swampscott resident, writer, advocate, and mother, Keiko Zoll, who said the ruling left her ashamed, devastated, shocked, afraid, and enraged.”
“Myself and many mothers we’ve learned the art of compartmentalizing — we have to. It’s a survival tactic,” Zoll said. “I often describe myself in relation to others but there is a part of my identity that is just me and me alone — my body.”
Swampscott resident Patty Correcia said she was “shaking” when she heard the news Friday morning.
“I work for Eastern Bank and today they decided they will help pay the expenses necessary to get women to a safe space,” she said. “This fight never ends. Every woman today had a bomb dropped on us. This is hard to digest.”
Tristan Smith, a candidate for the Massachusetts House of Representatives’ Eighth District, said he attended the vigil to show solidarity.
“As a white man, I can’t change my privilege, but I can be here for the fight that is not over,” said Smith.
Marianne Hartman, chair of the town’s Board of Health, said the ruling won’t stop all abortions — only those that are safe and legal.
“These are our bodies. Reproductive rights are health care,” Hartman said. “Women will die, especially poor women and women of color. This can’t stand.”
Mahder Teferra, 18, of Swampscott, said the court’s actions left her in shock.
“I’m lucky that I’m in a state where abortion is still legal. I haven’t really had the time to process it. I have empathy and sympathy for the women that feel hopeless right now and have nowhere to go,” said Teffera, who is Black. “In Alabama, they are already starting to cancel people’s appointments that were set up to have an abortion. I’m scared for women in other states who will have to spend money on travel to have an abortion, or those who will end up dying trying to have one illegally.”
The vigil included a moment of silence — a brief juxtaposition to the anger, concerns and worries expressed by attendees.
“I hoped I didn’t have to do this in my lifetime, but I’m here in hopes to feel better, to make other people feel better, maybe help them,” Hartman said. “This is a day of mourning, half of the country has been overturned, voting is all we have.”
Magella Cantara can be reached at [email protected].
