Pro-choice advocates began their march down to the statehouse on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 12 p.m. Following hosts, Jessica Stein and Jacob Barca, in protest of the new Texas abortion bill and the potential one waiting for be passed in Ohio. Groups gathered all over the state in hopes of putting a stop to the proposed “Trigger” bill.
Texas has banned abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy.
The Columbus rally was the advocates’ way of standing in solidarity with the people affected by the new Texas abortion law. Sophomore Tierna Seymore attended one of the many protests held in Powell.
“I expected to gain more supporters. It was a very small group but more is better than one when getting your voice heard,” Seymore said.
She and several others involved went into this march with hopes of gaining traction. Whether it kickstarts new rallies and gets the word out or pushes to repeal the bill.
The topic of abortion is always sure to bring its controversies along with it. For years people have tried to dispute whether states should allow abortions to take place at all. Psychology and World History teacher Brooke Sandy helped to further understand what’s happening with the Supreme Court in regards to abortion.
“Abortion is a contentious topic in general, so you’ll see that reflected in information around any case involving abortion that goes before the Supreme Court. Justices of course have their own opinions on such matters but ultimately their job is to determine the constitutionality of laws,” Sandy said.
Knowing that thousands of people have gathered throughout the past few decades to fight on behalf of abortion access, Seymore understood her place in the protest and why it was important.
“I believe the end goal is more peaceful protests. It’s a domino effect. If you push one down the others will follow,” Seymore said.
“We worked so hard to get the rights we have today. Many women have experienced unwanted pregnancies due to traumatic experiences or they just don’t want a child. By going to this protest, I’ve helped give them a voice,” Seymore said.
The controversies of abortion down in Texas have made their way up to Ohio.
“The Texas law limits abortion to as soon as a heartbeat can be detected, Ohio also has this law – The Heartbeat Bill. This is typically around six weeks but what many people do not understand is that pregnancy is calculated from the most recent menstrual cycle, so most people may not even know they are pregnant by this point,” Sandy said. “The newest Texas law on abortion has a particularly controversial component that allows private citizens to sue anyone related to receiving or performing an abortion. This is likely where the Constitutional challenge will come from.”
Now, advocates’ main concern is how Roe v. Wade may come into conflict with the new bills. “Roe v Wade is the landmark Supreme Court Case that struck down restrictive abortion laws, allowing women the liberty to decide whether or not to continue with a pregnancy or terminate the pregnancy through abortion without excessive government restriction. Some are worried that the Mississippi case could overturn the precedent set by Roe v. Wade,” Sandy said.
