Group stands in solidarity to protect reproductive rights

May 5—DANVILLE — Congresswoman Robin Kelly joined members of the newly-formed group Vermilion County Pride Coalition and other attendees at a press conference Thursday to express opposition to the ordinance passed this week by city officials designed to restrict abortions in Danville.

Speakers and attendees repeated the message that they stand with the women of Vermilion County and will continue to fight against the ordinance.

About 75-100 people attended the event at the gazebo outside the Danville Public Library.

The Thursday event added to the growing fallout from Tuesday's council meeting when aldermen and Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. voted 8-7 to approve the ordinance after a long and tense meeting in the tightly packed council chambers. Council members tied 7-7 in their vote, but Williams broke the tie in favor of the controversial ordinance.

An amendment to the ordinance states that its provisions would not take effect until courts ruled on their legality. Abortion rights are protected by law in Illinois, but proponents of the ordinance are staking their claims on a federal law from the 1870s that prohibits the shipment of drugs or tools used to perform abortions.

Caylynne Dobbles, Vermilion County Pride board member, said as individuals and as a group, they stand for comprehensive health care and reproductive rights in the community and state.

"We came together on Tuesday in a moment of urgency and because our fights are all connected. An attack on women's rights is an attack on LGTBQ+ rights. Just as it is an attack on the whole community of Danville," Dobbles said.

Dobbles said the organization was honored to have Congresswoman Kelly in attendance to speak at the press conference.

Kelly, who is in a wheelchair while she recovers from breaking an ankle, said she wishes she was speaking to the crowd under better circumstances.

"I am proud, very proud to stand with you today," she said.

"Let me be crystal clear, abortion care is health care," Kelly said, triggering applause from attendees. "And in Illinois we believe you should have the power to control your own body free from the judgment or coercion of others. The city council cannot take away your right to health care, and we will not let them. Many people who support this ordinance have no stake in the real consequences of their actions. This is shameful. At a time when Danville is losing health care providers, our leaders should do everything they can to encourage more health care professionals to come here.

"Restrictive ordinances like this will only discourage providers from setting up shop."

Kelly said she, like many others, was shocked and disappointed when Roe v. Wade — the court decision of 50 years ago that gave constitutional protection to abortion rights — was overturned last summer.

"I was appalled. I was heartbroken. I felt like the clock was turning back on the rights that women have had and fought for for decades," Kelly said. "But in Illinois, in Danville, we refuse to back down. We protected abortion rights and became a safe haven for women seeking care. We will not let an anti-choice minority force us backwards."

Kelly told the crowd that she was proud to stand with her constituents in defense of their fundamental rights and urged them to keep up their fight.

"Stay strong, Danville," she said.

"I stand with you in this fight against these archaic policies. Please remember, this ordinance is unlawful. Your abortion rights are protected in Illinois. And I just spoke with the attorney general before I came here and he wanted me to remind you that your rights are protected. That this ordinance is just an ordinance that has no weight. You need to speak up just in case the ACLU sues, because whose money is going to be used to fight the lawsuit? It will be your money."

Kelly, a Democrat from the Chicago area, represents Illinois' 2nd District in the U.S House of Representatives. The district includes a portion of Vermilion County, including Danville.

Other speakers included Betty Seidel, Danville legislative assistant for state Sen. Paul Faraci (D-Champaign). Faraci's Senate district includes Vermilion County.

"Paul firmly believes the government should not get involved in decisions made between a person and their doctor. He believes that when it comes to reproductive health care, every person has the right to make their own individual choices about their body, their health and their future," Seidel said. "Senator Faraci will fight hard, will continue to fight hard to be an advocate for women's reproductive health care access and to ensure that protections stay in place to allow all residents to make the best health care decisions for themselves and for their families."

She said if there is any way Faraci or she can be of help, call 217-442-5252 or visit the state senator office in the soon-to-be Cannon Building, the Vermilion County Administration Building, on the third floor, in Danville.

She added that Faraci was planning to meet with the attorney general's office on Friday to discuss the issue.

"I'm sure that they will have a favorable outcome in the courts," Seidel said.

Faraci had issued a statement following the Danville City Council's passage of the ordinance, saying he encouraged the state's attorney general to take action to block the "unconstitutional mandate."

"The government should not get involved in decisions made between a person and their doctor. People deserve to have access to reproductive health care free from infringement from politicians," Faraci said in the statement. "During my time in the senate, I will continue to be an advocate for women's health care access and ensure that protections are in place to allow residents to make the best health care decisions for themselves."

The city's ordinance is specifically designed to prohibit the shipment into Danville of abortion pills such as Mifepristone, which is commonly used for abortion and miscarriage management and other reproductive health care needs.

During Thursday's event, Dr. Bethany Halloran, Danville's only obstetrics and gynecology physician who cares for women and their babies during pregnancy and childbirth, also spoke about her goal to provide safe, effective and evidence-based healthcare. The Danville ordinance restricting access to provide medications prevents her from doing her job the way she was trained and the way Danville deserves, she said.

VC Pride Coalition board members Bonnie Marrow and Lacy Miller said the Danville ordinance sends a nationwide signal that Danville isn't a safe place for women, and the board knows the other side is doing everything they can to cause chaos, confusion and fear.

"So let's be clear. Abortion is a fundamental right in Illinois," Miller said. "We are angry and disappointed to see the people who are supposed to be our leaders in the city council try and take away those rights. But we know that by standing together, we will win this fight. As Vermilion County residents, VC Pride will continue to stand for the right side of history, and use our voice for those who cannot.

"When all the dust settles and those who have traveled here to see this egregious ordinance passed go back to their homes, we will still be here. And we will continue to fight for all of Vermilion County," Miller said.

Among the attendees at Thursday afternoon's press conference was Cari West-Henkelman wearing a Handmaid's Tale outfit and holding a "Separation of Church and State" sign.

West-Henkelman, a vice chairman with the Champaign County Democrats, no longer lives in her hometown of Danville, but has family here.

"You can take the girl out of Danville, but you can't take Danville out of the girl," she said. "I'm here to show support for my Danville family, friends and community. An injustice to any of us is an injustice to all. We have to show up and support."

Another Danville resident, Cade, who didn't want to give a last name, said a missed miscarriage caused her to have an abortion.

"It saved my life," Cade said.

With daughter Yuna, Cade had hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe type of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

"At 12 weeks my organs started failing and they told me that if this medication that they were giving me didn't stop the vomiting, then I'd need an abortion to save my life," Cade said. Thousands of women deal with this, and a lot of them end up needing an abortion, Cade said.

Reactions to the ordinance from statewide officials have been numerous since the ordinance was adopted.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker criticized the council's action. In a statement, he said, "Illinois respects a woman's right to choose in every corner of this state, and the passage of this illegal ordinance will not change that."

Pritzker pledged to stand against the ordinance going forward. "I will fight for the women of Danville and the surrounding area to ensure they have access to the healthcare they need and that this ordinance never takes effect."

Mayor Williams acknowledges that his and fellow council members' decision has opened them to criticism, but he said he has also received words of support and gratitude. And he continues to defend the action as appropriate.

Williams told the Commercial-News on Wednesday that he believes the vote in favor of the ordinance is "the best way forward. I've maintained all along we have conflicting legislation at the federal and state levels and it needs to be resolved. This allows us a way to do that."

Not all of the reaction from outside Danville has been negative.

State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dietrich) said the Danville officials took a "bold stand."

In a statement, Niemerg said, "It takes courage to stand behind an ordinance like this, especially in a state like Illinois. The threat of lawsuits, the name-calling, and online harassment did not stop them from voting for this ordinance.

"I applaud the mayor and the city council members who voted to protect the lives of unborn children by voting for this ordinance."

Niemerg represents District 102 in the Illinois House of Representatives. His district includes southern portions of Vermilion County, but not Danville.