Hatters rally to show support for abortion rights in wake of U.S. overturning Roe v. Wade

“We’re going to have members of the community come to show solidarity for our neighbours in the United States who have lost that human right,” said Sophia Stacey, Women’s Reproductive Rights Rally co-organizer.

Co-organizer Michelle Marshall echoed the statement, calling the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision an attack on human rights.

“When Roe vs. Wade was overturned, it was a big blow to human and reproductive rights,” said Marshall. “I thought we needed to bring awareness to it and show our solidarity for those who are affected.”

The right to an abortion does not exist in Canada the same way it did in the U.S., but the procedure has been decriminalized because of the 1988 R. v. Morgentaler Supreme Court decision.

Abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy in this country, but Marshall says access to the procedure is still an issue.

“Not everybody in Canada has access to abortion care or reproductive health care,” explained Mitchell. “It’s not only about ‘it’s not happening here,’ it’s just not happening here right now. It’s very possible that the situation in the United States could come up here.”

Marshall says in addition to showing support for American women, the rally is meant to send a message to all levels of government.

“We want to show our government that it’s vital that all people have access to safe and healthy reproductive health care,” said Marshall.

Local physician Dr. Lena Derie-Gillespie attended the rally to show her support as a healthcare professional. She provides women’s reproductive health care, including prescribing Mifegymiso for medical abortions. Derie-Gillespie says abortion is a health-care issue.

“People are afraid to bring this up sometimes with their health-care provider,” said Derie-Gillespie. “And that’s a problem because no one’s afraid to bring up an appendectomy.”

Lisa Bamhare currently lives in Medicine Hat but is moving to Wisconsin in a few months. She is thankful Wisconsin is not a state with a trigger law that will ban abortions, but her fiance’s company sent out an email saying it would pay for anyone who needed to travel out of state to access an abortion.

“That feels good,” said Bamhare. “But at the same time, a company has to do that now. My anxiety is way up, it’s not a place I ever thought I would live.”

Bamhare says it is important to come out to rallies like this even if it isn’t an issue in her hometown.

“I want Canadians to show support for our sisters in the south,” Bamhare said. “We’re all women and if we don’t band together, who will? Obviously, decisions are being made without us.”

Monday’s protest was peaceful despite not everyone being in agreement on the messaging.

Corbin Cooper attended the rally with a friend trying to share the message that every life is worth protecting.

“We really care about the life outside the womb, and the life inside the womb,” said Cooper. “We believe that all life has value and that abortion is murder.”

Cooper called the overturning of Roe v. Wade a victory and hopes the decision will impact policy in Canada, however, supported the rally’s right to take place.

“What happens there has an effect here,” Cooper said. “We want public discourse but we want to see hearts change, ultimately.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the overturning of Roe v. Wade a devastating setback. His government is spending $3.5 million on two projects to improve access to abortion in the country following the case’s return to the spotlight.

by Meghan Cobb

Hatters rally to show support for abortion rights in wake of U.S. overturning Roe v. Wade

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