'Rights on the chopping block:' Protesters march against Dobbs decision in New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD — Demonstrators gathered to protest the Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in Buttonwood Park Saturday morning to the sounds of a strong bass line, courtesy of Bob Marley and the Wailers.

"Get up, stand up!," the Wailers voices rang out. "Stand up for your rights!"

The demonstration, organized by the Women's Alliance of Southeastern Massachusetts, was a reaction to SCOTUS' ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and 50 years of a woman's legal right to an abortion throughout the U.S.

The decision allowed states to decide whether they would allow the medical procedure. Since the decision on June 24, 10 states (mostly in the South) have prohibited abortions, with more expected to follow. Massachusetts and Rhode Island moved in the opposite direction by guaranteeing the right to an abortion in state law.

But for many of the more than 100 demonstrators, it was about a lot more, according to Dartmouth resident Cynthia Cummings.

"I've been an activist my entire life," Cummings, who was vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth until her retirement in 2020, said. "I've been marching and standing up and writing and speaking and doing everything we can to promote equity for women and gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual folks and racial equity.

"It's just what I do."

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'Not only a health care issue'

One of the leaders who marched from Buttonwood Park to the New Bedford Public Library via Union Street was Lisa Lemieux, president of the Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Labor Council.

"This is absolutely not only a health care issue, but it's an accessibility issue and it's a worker issue," Lemieux, who is also co-chair of the New Bedford Democratic Committee, said.

The SCOTUS decision in the case of allowed state governments to decide whether to legalize the medical procedure in their states. As a result, thousands of women and girls have sought the procedure in other states — like Massachusetts — thousands of miles away.

Apart from affecting women's health, Lemiux said the decision impacts the jobs of many working in reproductive health and have major implications for women in their careers. 

"Some jobs aren't going to be good jobs forever, but this is not one of those jobs," she said. "This is one of those jobs where this health care needs to be available to people when their health requires that."

'It doesn't matter how old you are'

As the group made their way down Union, they were greeted with honking cars, supporters mostly, who encouraged them in their efforts.

"Hey hey! Ho ho! This backwards Court has got to go!"

Among those chanting was 16-year-old Jonnae Connor, who came from Plymouth to participate.

"It's important to use our voices and speak up in an action like this," she said. "It doesn't matter how old you are. It's important to speak up if your rights are going to get taken away."

The demonstrators felt it important to show their presence in New Bedford to show the issue is not restricted to the halls of state and federal governance.

"I think that we need to bring this and other issues to the forefront," Cummings said. "And perhaps the more we do this, the more folks will respond and the more we can change things."

'Rights on the chopping block'

The march culminated downtown with a speaking program before the steps of library.

"I am outraged [by the decision]," said Bettina Borders, founder and current president of Women's Fund SouthCoast. "If anybody has not read this decision, please do. It is readable and it is revolutionary.

"It has taken away precedence," Borders, former first justice for the Bristol Juvenile Court, continued. "It forewarns of a lot of other rights on the chopping block."

She elaborated on how the Dobbs decision may effect the rights to marriage for same-sex individuals, privacy in the bedroom, and even access to contraception.

For Connor, the demonstration represented a step in the right direction.

"Everything starts small, and then it grows," she said. "This is something that can continue to grow and be bigger ... More voices can come together and we can be louder and greater together."

Contact Kevin G. Andrade at kandrade@s-t.com and follow him on Twitter: @KevinGAndrade. Support local journalism and subscribe to the Standard-Times today!

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford protesters march against SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe