Activists protest about women's health care rights outside Rep. Jackson's office

In reaction to the recent Supreme Court ruling stripping federal protections for abortion rights, about 65 protesters gathered outside of U.S. Rep Ronny Jackson’s office Thursday evening in downtown Amarillo to protest the attack on women’s reproductive rights by the court and the Republican Party.

This was the second week in a row that protesters have gathered outside of the congressperson’s office, and according to organizers, they plan to continue as well as hold other events to get voters motivated on the subject.

Jami Lyons, one of the organizers of the rally and founder of the Panhandle Activist Coalition of Texas, a new organization that wants to bring local groups together for action in the community, said she was pleased with the amount of turnout and local support that she received. She said that her organization is not a single-issue organization and wants to give a voice to the community on a multitude of issues that affect the area.

Abortion in Texas: What Roe v. Wade ruling, laws mean for pregnant people, birth control

“People feel strongly about what is happening in our country lately, especially with this action by the Supreme Court to take away women’s reproductive rights,” Lyons said. “Two weeks ago, I had rights to my own health care, and now I do not. Our leaders, Ted Cruz, John Cornyn and Ronny Jackson all believe that if my 12-year-old daughter was raped that she should have to take that child to term; that is insane. I have had the right and freedom to what to do with my body for my entire life, and now that is gone."

Lyons spoke about how the United States is the only first world country that has revoked this woman’s right, and the state of Texas and the United States have some of the highest infant mortality rates in the world.

“This is among the most anti-medical movement that has happened in the United States," Lyons added.

Lyons led the group of protesters around the block surrounding Jackson's office, with groups including families displaying signs voicing their displeasure with the inaction of their elected officials to stand up for all rights in the state and nation.

When asked about comments from the Supreme Court, Justice Samuel Alito defended the overturning of Roe vs. Wade case by referencing all states having some form of Safe Haven laws. Lyons said this was not an acceptable reason to take away from women’s health care rights, but she did feel that adoptions should be made more accessible to everyone in this country regardless of sexual orientation.

“The fact that it is as difficult for homosexual couples to gain custody of children is beyond wrong,” Lyons said. "There are loving families that are waiting right now to adopt, and the only reason they are being prevented from that is because of who they choose to marry.”

Lyons also referenced Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s comments about not having an exception to the state law banning abortion, due to his planning to eliminate rape in the state of Texas. In September of last year, Abbott made this statement when asked about no exception for rape victims in the new Texas law passed in 2021.

“Rape is a crime, and Texas will work tirelessly to make sure we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas by aggressively going out and arresting them and prosecuting them and getting them off the streets,” Abbott said. “So, goal No. 1 in the state of Texas is to eliminate rape so that no woman, no person, will be a victim of rape.”

Texas led the nation in total rapes for the second year in a row in 2021 and was below the national average for rape conviction clearances, according to FBI crime data.

Lyons said that his statement and the numbers bear out that nobody should have any faith in Abbott’s pledges to eliminate rape or that he cares about women's health care rights.

“Our governor should step down. He pledged to reduce these rates and has done nothing to effect this change; he has totally failed to protect women and their rights in this state,” Lyons added.

She said that she wants her organization to speak for all in the area who feel like their voice is not being heard.

“I want to bring the community together,” Lyons added.

Lyons said that she is not in favor of late-term abortions and was quite fine with the protections that Roe vs Wade provided for women’s access to health care decisions. She said she welcomes all who want to work to make a change for the good in the community.

Marcus Rogers, a local activist who also is on the board of Panhandle Pride, spoke about his support for the protest and the importance of standing with women and their reproductive rights.

More: Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, trigger law to completely ban abortion in Texas

“I am here today to offer mutual aid and to support all community members to get people plugged in and make some meaningful change in the Panhandle and across the state,” Rogers said. “We are here at the office of our congressman. He is supposed to be representing us at the national level, and he is not doing his job for all of his constituents.”

Rogers said that he is extremely disappointed in the direction of the Texas Republican Party with its attacks on women’s and LGBTQ+ rights.

"These attacks affect all members of the community negatively, especially working people," Rogers said.

When asked about how much of the attacks have been framed from a religious angle, Rogers said that he respects others’ religions, but their beliefs should not control everyone's lives.

“I feel that people should be able to practice whatever religion they like, but you telling me what I can do with my body and what I can do with my life is wrong,” Rogers said. “Working class people are not wanting others to tell them what to do with their bodies. No matter what party people identify with, we need to support the rights of all people. The people in power are the ones that want to control and divide us all.”

When asked about Jackson’s statements repeatedly about protecting freedoms while trying to restrict women and LGBTQ+ rights, Rogers spoke about what he felt was the hypocrisy in his stances.

“Many so-called conservative politicians love to throw around the term 'freedom', but if they actually understood what freedom (is), they would not even give a definition,” Rogers said.

To find out more about the Panhandle Activist Coalition, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/984593785522217.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Abortion rights activists protest outside Rep. Jackson's office