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Almost 300 Rallied in Stamford, One of 650+ Actions Across the U.S.

Stamford, CT — On Saturday, October 2nd, at 10:30 AM, 300 people across the greater Stamford area rallied in front of the Stamford/Norwalk Judicial Courthouse at the Rally for Reproductive Rights and Abortion Justice 2021 - Stamford to demand an end to the dangerous, escalating attacks on reproductive rights and freedoms in this country. 

U.S. Senator Blumenthal led off the event with a rally cry in support of women’s reproductive autonomy, showcasing the importance of the Women's Health Protection Act. 

State Representative Caroline Simmons energized the crowd with powerful calls to end Texas’ unconstitutional anti-abortion law. 

State Representative Matt Blumenthal explained how one can be an ally to women, BIPOC, and LGBTQA+ communities in the fight for abortion justice for all.

Latina activist-feminist Angela Cusicanqui inspired attendees and discussed how in her home country of Bolivia, abortion is outlawed.

Dominique Johnson, Norwalk Common Council Representative At-Large, detailed the deep inequities of abortion healthcare and how it effects the LGBTQA+ community. 

State Representative Stephanie Thomas reflected upon having been the youngest child of a survivor of sexual assault and how that shaped her view of abortion. She later detailed how we can create more equitable communities by urging people to vote in every single election, and explained what citizens can do to get more involved.

Brook Manewal, founder of the Stamford Women's Talking Circle, co-founder of Pink Wave Action, and member of the Stamford Democratic City Committee, emphatically stated the importance of voting for pro-choice women, and how their particular life experiences supports their leadership in relating to and shaping the communities where they lead.

Danielle Eason, Board Chair of Planned Parenthood Votes! Connecticut, served as the event’s keynote speaker. She explained that in our own state, many residents still struggle to access health care due to the pandemic and existing barriers, including systemic racism and economic inequity. 

Shira Tarantino, co-founder of Pink Wave Action, emceed the rally and led chants that got the crowd moving. 

The rally in Stamford was jointly organized by local organizations Pink Wave Action, Stamford Women’s Talking Circle, Indivisible Stamford, Indivisible Greenwich, Allies for Justice & Equity CT, and ICT4 as part of the national day of action which featured more than 650+ events in all fifty states.

Today’s rally in Stamford comes as the Supreme Court is set to begin oral arguments on October 4th in the case that will determine the future of abortion rights for all Americans. 

In response to the near ban on abortions in Texas, which took effect on September 1, organizations across the country joined forces to take part in the #RallyforAbortionJustice, organized by Women’s March and national partners Planned Parenthood, NARAL, National Organization for Women, and more, to show that Americans overwhelmingly support Roe v. Wade and that this is nothing more than another unacceptable political power grab to control the bodies, futures and lives of pregnant and birthing people. 

Shira Tarantino, local community activist, event co-organizer and co-founder of Pink Wave, states, “We have known that the day would come when abortion access would be challenged in the Supreme Court. Abortion access has been systematically under attack in this country for decades. It is beyond time for abortion to be secured legally, funded fully, and equitable and available for all who need it, when they need it, without shame or stigma. Today and every day, we must push for bold solutions that ensure accessible, quality healthcare, reproductive autonomy, and safe & legal abortions for all who need them.” 

“We cannot sit on the sidelines just because we feel safe in our bubble in Connecticut,” says Brook Manewal, event co-organizer and founder of Stamford Women’s Talking Circle, co-founder of PinkWave, and Stamford Democratic City Committee representative for the 18th District. “An infringement on women’s rights anywhere is an assault on women everywhere. We must stand arm and arm with women, BIPOC and our LGBTQIA+ communities everywhere to challenge these laws designed to maintain control in the hands of the white patriarchy. We need to make sure we put more women in positions of leadership so laws like the ones passed in Texas don’t see the light of day.” 

Michelle Abt, event co-organizer and Indivisible Stamford spokesperson, says, “It’s beyond time for the United States to recognize that access to abortion care is a key part of access to human rights. It is our right to shape our families, to access the healthcare we need, to decide when or whether we have children, and how we shape our lives — and for that care to be funded and not leave families and individuals scraping by.”

To promote safety given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Saturday’s rally in Stamford took place entirely outdoors, and attendees were asked to wear masks. Free masks were offered by Pink Wave and Planned Parenthood of New England.

#BansOffMyBody #ProChoice #ReproductiveRights #AbortionJustice #RallyforAbortionJustice #WeWontGoBack