Nonviolent acts of rebellion are necessary to stand up for abortion access | Opinion

When I was U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander's staffer, he said when something bad happens, you address it right away. Alexander said this when his chief of staff was arrested for possession and distribution of child pornography. In 2016, the government and politics were dictating the limits of the fertility treatments available to me for my firstborn son at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Today the bad thing is folks will die without essential reproductive health care.

Alexander told me to praise the good. As an active-duty U.S. Air Force spouse, I am thankful that our country will finally be pushed to codify nationwide abortion access. My husband has 20 years of service to our country this month. Our rights do not end where someone else's beliefs begin.

I volunteered at phonebanks for Alexander during the 2014 Republican primary to beat Joe Carr. But when a constituent did not answer my call, the pre-recorded voicemail started to play. The senator was committing to forced pregnancy for Tennesseans. I froze and couldn't make any more calls.

Your state. Your stories. Support more reporting like this.
A subscription gives you unlimited access to stories across Tennessee that make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you. Click here to become a subscriber.

The time for the 2014 primary came. The primary ballot required swearing allegiance to the Republican Party. I refused to swear allegiance to a political party that criminalized reproductive care.

Hear more Tennessee voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought-provoking columns.

I have put my body on the line at City Hall to have a right to control my own body. I silently protested the current breach of my freedom in the early-morning hours. A white male employee bigger and older than me came out with his power washer. We were alone. He threatened to power wash me if I did not move off the steps of City Hall.

As a certified foster mother and a biological mom, I left my children for the longest time ever to risk arrest to participate in an act of civil disobedience on Saturday, July 9. I was honored to have many Americans with me in spirit that day, from my grandmother to civil rights activist John Lewis. Both agreed with getting into "good trouble." Our sit-in did not result in arrests, but we are not done yet. I look forward to a wave of sit-ins as nonviolent acts of rebellion to stand up for everyone's right to abortion access.

I love family and friends who have had abortions. There is no shame in getting an abortion. We see you, and you matter. Shame on the government for restricting American freedom. Abortion is essential health care. We need nationwide abortion access.

Kelly A. Perry, Ph.D., is a Tennessee resident and former staffer for retired U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Maryville.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nonviolent acts of rebellion necessary to stand up for abortion access