SWAMPSCOTT — With the community still reeling from the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade Friday, hundreds gathered in the town Monday to protest the verdict amid the “National General Strike to support abortion and privacy rights in opposition to overturning of Roe v. Wade.”
The protest Monday was organized by Keiko Zoll, a Swampscott resident, mother, writer, and activist, who said residents of Massachusetts, where abortion remains protected, have an obligation to help those who can’t access the procedure.
“We are exceptionally lucky, we are in a state where abortion is protected by law and executive order. We must do everything we can for those who no longer have access to healthcare,” Zoll said.
At the demonstration, protesters held up signs saying, “get mad VOTE,” “keep your laws off of my body,” and “shame on the Supreme Court! Healthcare for all women NOW.”
“We need to mobilize in various ways, open our homes, open child care, and donate money to abortion clinics. For everyone who has come out today, it has restored my faith in humanity,” said Zoll.
Swampscott resident Linda Jones said she hoped the ruling would not dissuade young people from being involved in politics.
“It’s true, we don’t know what is going to happen next, we fought this already and now we are doing it again. I want young people to get involved, stay informed, be aware. The Supreme Court is banking on us getting discouraged, don’t let them,” she said.
Molly Campbell, who was visiting from Missouri, said her home state is one of at least 13 states that has now banned abortion.
“I started noticing a couple years ago that Planned Parenthood would start regressing and they stopped providing abortions. I had friends who traveled to Illinois [to get abortions]. Now abortion is illegal as of Friday.” Campbell said. “It’s terrifying.”
A certain heaviness of mixed emotions hung in the air as crashing waves collapsed in the background beyond Monument Avenue. Concern and demand underscored protesters’ chants of “Not the church, not the state, Women must decide their fate!”
Canadian visitor Meaghan Beames called the ruling a “slap in the face to women.”
“It’s awful and makes no sense,” she said.
Nancy Walters, of Swampscott, said the ruling marked a step back for the nation.
“We fought hard for our rights just to watch them be revoked … before Roe v. Wade went into effect, I had friends in high school who went through with having the baby, and their lives were changed forever, traumatized even. Whereas, after Roe v. Wade went into effect, they would have been able to make a choice and go on with their lives,” Walters said. “Today, women will die. We will go back to coat hangers.”
Walters’ voice cracked as she spoke about the ramifications of the verdict on her daughter and grand-daughter.
“In the next election people need to vote pro-choice. What about poor people? What about people of color? What happens to them? This isn’t over.”
Magella Cantara can be reached at [email protected].
