'I deserve to make that choice': Augusta reproductive rights activists march to the polls

For River Benvenuti, an Augusta nurse, legalizing abortion is about not going back to a darker time in medicine that existed prior to Roe v. Wade.

"There were actually units dedicated to women who were septic from attempted abortions at home," Benvenuti said. "I don't want to see it go back to that, and I have a niece who's 5 years old, and she deserves to make that choice. God forbid she would ever have to. And I deserve to make that choice."

It's why Benvenuti was among dozens of reproductive rights activists who were part of a "Roe, Roe Roe the Vote" march midday Saturday in downtown Augusta.

The group wore T-shirts and carried signs with messages like: "Public Cervix Announcement: No Uterus = No Opinion."

They marched down Telfair Street from the overflow parking lot of Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School to the Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building. The municipal building is currently serving as the county's only advance voting poll.

Augustans react: News of Roe v Wade repeal cheered by some, reviled by others

Facebook activist: Telling her story of rape, Blythe woman uses Facebook to organize for women's rights

Early voting: Advance voting is now underway. Here's what Augusta area voters should know

During their mile-long march, they shouted chants like: "This is what democracy looks like!" and "Roe, Roe Roe the vote merrily down the streets; women's rights are human rights, that's the dream for me!"

The march's organizer, Traci George of the People's Agenda, took that last message further, saying this issue is about "family reproductive rights. Don't get it twisted."

George said earlier in the week that she organized the march because, during her efforts to register and inform voters, many said they felt intimidated going into the polls alone.

"They wanted vote buddies," she said.

Once they got to the municipal building, a handful of the marchers left their political signs behind with the rest of the group to go in and cast their early vote for leaders who support access to abortion.

Governor's race: Rivalry renewed: Kemp, Abrams push divergent visions in Georgia governor's debate

Among the voters was Benvenuti, who said she voted in every race for Democrats.

"It just feels like, at this point, (the) Republican Party is kind of turning into a little bit of fascism," she said. "Not that the Democratic Party is perfect. Far from it, in fact. But they're more leaning towards maintaining human rights and towards maintains freedoms of the population."

President Joe Biden promised in a tweet in September that if Democrats keep the House and if two additional Democratic senators are elected, they would codify Roe v. Wade at the federal level.

Janeya Filzen was another early voter Saturday, who, when asked about that promise, said, "It needs to actually happen. We need to have that in law, guaranteed, for everyone."

Richmond County early voting is currently only at the Augusta Municipal Building, but starting Oct. 29, it will expand to the Henry Brigham Recreation Center at 2463 Golden Camp Rd., the Robert Howard Community Center at 103 Diamond Lakes Way, and the Warren Road Recreation Center at 300 Warren Rd.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta area activists march to polls to vote to legalize abortion