Plaza rally will oppose prospective Supreme Court rollback of abortion rights

By Bert Etling, Ashland.news

A march is set to start from the Ashland Public Library at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 14, and head north for four blocks up East Main Street sidewalks to the Ashland Plaza for a “Bans Off Our Bodies” rally decrying a draft Supreme Court decision leaked last week that, if finalized, would overturn the 1970 court decision that recognized a pregnant woman’s right to make a choice whether to have an abortion.

Plans call for speakers, music and the sharing of written displays of anonymous stories from women who have had abortions. Similar demonstrations organized by such groups as Planned Parenthood Action Fund, UltraViolet, Women’s March and MoveOn are expected the same day across the nation, according to organizers and news reports.

The local event is co-sponsored by Women’s March Southern Oregon, Planned Parenthood, ORD2 Indivisible and the RV Pepper Shakers.

An announcement by ORD2 Indivisible, an activist group in Oregon’s Congressional District 2, says participants “will raise our collective voices against the Supreme Court’s impending vote to restrict access to abortion.”

The list of expected speakers includes state Rep. Pam Marsh, Ashland Mayor Julie Akins, Ashland City Councilor Gina DuQuenne and Denise Krause, a candidate for Jackson County Commissioner. Music will be provided by Women With Wings, planners say.

They’re inviting people to bring their personal stories regarding abortion in written or printed form, without names. They’ll be pinned to a clothesline strung across the Plaza, or deposited in a box. Stories can also be emailed to [email protected], where they will be printed out and delivered to the rally.

Email Ashland.news Executive Editor Bert Etling at [email protected] or call or text him at 541-631-1313.