Kent State University students rally for reproductive rights

In response to the leak of a draft opinion from the Supreme Court gutting the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, the Kent State University chapter of the Students for a Democratic Society organized a protest in support of abortion rights on Thursday.

In 1973, Roe v. Wade guaranteeing a constitutional right to abortion in a 7-2 decision. In the draft, Justice Samuel Alito states "Roe was egregiously wrong from the start."

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People began to gather shortly before noon, some armed with signs, others only with their voices.

Fionna Fisher, a student organizer with SDS, said that people campus-wide were itching to speak out against the leaked draft decision, so it wasn't hard to organize something so quickly after the news broke.

"People really care about this," Fisher said. "At the moment, we have a really amazing crowd. In fact, it is the largest crowd we — ourselves, as SDS — have had in our actions thus far." She estimated there were between 70 and 80 people already congregating at Risman Plaza on campus.

Gabrielle Blake, a student at KSU, said she came to the protest because she is afraid that her rights are being stripped from her. Blake said that the choice was between being complacent during a pivotal moment in history, or standing up for what she believes.

"I don't like sitting on the sidelines," Blake said.

Attendance quickly swelled to more than 100 when an SDS member, armed with a bullhorn, standing on the lamp-bearing concrete pedestal flanking the fountain bearing the university's name, struck up a chant echoed by the crowd, a multi-racial gathering of men, women, and those eschewing traditional classification raised their voices together.

"Hey hey

ho ho

the patriarchy has got to go"

Fisher mounted the pedestal to address the crowd.

"If Roe is overturned, 26 U.S. states will likely enact bans on abortion," she said. "We call on all working class, oppressed, and progressive people to take to the streets and fight for our lives, in some cases literally."

Fisher noted that some might argue that nothing can be done but to vote in November's general election for people committed to preserving their rights in November.

"We must act now," said Fisher. "What is needed is sustained activity that raises the social cost of stripping our reproductive rights away."

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She expressed concern that restrictions on contraceptive access and invitro fertilization, as well as the criminalization of miscarriages, could be next.

"Alito writes in this brief that this is only about abortion. We are fooling ourselves if we believe that for a second," Fisher said. She added that Alito's use of the state's rights argument in the brief echoes the rhetoric employed by Confederate apologists and segregationists.

A number of other speakers from SDS addressed the crowd through the bullhorn, voicing their concerns and their anger, urging action and involvement. Each speech was met with a roar of cheers, followed by more chanting.

"Dare to struggle

Dare to win"

The assembled crowd moved off Risman Plaza, headed to The Rock, a boulder facing Route 59 that students regularly spray paint with slogans. At the front of the column, SDS member Haydn Palmer carried a large red flag emblazoned with the organization's logo.

Chanting continued during the march through campus. It was in stark contrast to the somber candlelight march that happened Tuesday night memorializing the victims killed by the Ohio National Guard, shot on May 4, 1970 while protesting the expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia.

Upon reaching their destination, participants in the protest formed a circle around The Rock, with someone in the middle holding the bullhorn. Anyone who wanted to speak was encouraged to do so.

Person after person took the invitation to speak. Cheers preceded each person's words.

Jake Malbasa quoted author and civil rights activist James Baldwin. "It is inconceivable that a sovereign people should continue, as we do so abjectly, to say, 'I can’t do anything about it. It’s the government.' The government is the creation of the people. It is responsible to the people. And the people are responsible for it."

"This isn't going to be easy, but we can f*****g do it," said Malbasa.

Sophia Karas offered a Christian perspective to the crowd.

"It hurts my heart to know that people that call themselves Christians refuse to allow people to have rights," Karas said. "I personally have very different views of abortion compared to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, but I want you all to know that I personally love you, and I know that God loves you," she said.

All the way up the hill above The Rock on Hilltop Drive by Lowery Hall, cheers and speeches were audible. There was no counter-protest to be seen.

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at dkreider@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: SCOTUS leak gutting Roe v. Wade spurs action by Kent State student group