On what should have been a celebratory moment for the fiftieth anniversary of Roe v. Wade, many gathered at The Moon to hear Vice President Kamala Harris discuss restoring women’s reproductive rights. The event was held today at 11 a.m.
Florida House of Representative’s member, Fentrice Driskell opened the event with a speech empowering all women to channel their inner strength.
“I now have less rights than my mother did,” said Driskell. “We’re all asking what’s next. We will not lose hope, instead we will fight.”
In June of last year, the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending women’s constitutional rights to abortions. The ruling left abortion rights in the hands of each state. In Florida, women can receive a medical abortion up until 15 weeks.
Charging the crowd after Driskell was Service Employees International Union, International President, Mary K. Henry. Henry reminded everyone of the role they play in fighting to win women’s rights back.
“Working class women, Black, Latina, indigenous and white are already struggling to make ends meet,” said Henry. “We’ve seen state legislatures attack both abortion rights and rights to meet in unions.”
Since the ruling in June, women across the country have had to search far and wide to seek safe medical abortions, due to the bans happening in their home states. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to travel for these procedures and risk having an abortion performed by someone who is not licensed.
Shortly before Harris took the stage, members of the crowd began chanting ‘My body, my choice’ and ‘Hey , ho, Ron DeSantis has got to go’. The crowd was filled with visitors from out of town as well as students from FAMU and Planned Parenthood.
Finally taking the stage around noon, Harris acknowledged the recent shooting in California and the negative impact gun violence has had on the country. Harris also acknowledged everyone in the crowd and their pursuit of freedom and liberty.
“For nearly 50 years Americans relied on the rights that Roe protected,” said Harris. “Let us not be tired or discouraged, we are on the right side of history. We will continue to stand together to fight and protect the freedom of all people and all women everywhere. Remember when we fight, we win.”
Harris announced that President Biden issued a presidential morandum that will require members from their cabinet to identify barriers and recommend action to ensure doctors can legally prescribe, pharmacists can dispense and women can obtain safe medication.