'Summer of Rage' rally puts focus on abortion access organizations in Missouri
Abortion rights advocates on Saturday continued voicing their support of reproductive health care and bodily autonomy through a "Summer of Rage" rally outside the Boone County Courthouse.
The event served as a welcome back to students engaged in the issue while highlighting the implementation of Missouri's voter ID law and providing clarification on what Missouri's trigger law on abortion means.
One of the biggest questions received since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision was whether Plan B is still legal, said Melissa Cameron, CoMo for Progress leader and rally organizer.
Missouri's answer to abortion law questions: Don't ask us
"Those first couple rallies, I didn't know the answer," she said, about events in Columbia earlier this year. "We researched and found out Plan B is legal."
This could be in jeopardy, however, depending on what legislation is proposed for the next session of the Missouri General Assembly, Cameron added.
The second-most-asked question was how people could help, Cameron said. Advocates can donate time and money to the Missouri Abortion Fund and Midwest Access Coalition, she added. Those groups were supported Saturday by the rally.
"We want to make sure people know (those organizations) are here to help, and that they could use people's time and money if able," Cameron said, adding "I'll drive you" posts on social media are not safe.
The Missouri Abortion Fund provides money to people in the state to legally access an abortion. This could be covering travel costs, child care or even the procedure itself, Cameron said. The Midwest Access Coalition works to connect people with escorts or places to stay.
"They also do training with their volunteers to make sure everyone you encounter while working with Midwest Access Coalition is knowledgeable and inclusive around our community," Cameron said, adding Saturday's rally was about getting messages out to more people.
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Demanding action
Chimene Schwach, a longtime abortion rights activist; Alison Dreith with Midwest Access Coalition; and Lyra Noce with the Boone County Democrats were among the various speakers Saturday.
Schwach recently ran for the Democratic nomination for the 47th District House seat, but was defeated in the primary by Adrian Plank, who also was in attendance Saturday. He will face off against Republican John Martin in November.
Abortion in Missouri is down to self-managing a person's own care, Schwach said, noting 60% of abortions are chemical through medication of mifepristone and misoprostol.
"It's important that we all learn how to self-manage abortion and teach someone else how to self-manage," she said. "... I will abet and aid abortions for people in this state, other states and anywhere they need them.
"... You need to demand from legislators and local prosecutors they go on record as saying they will not prosecute doctors, parents, pregnant people, friends who drive people across the border — (that) they will not prosecute abortions."
One aid-and-abet method is simply providing information to people, protected under the First Amendment, Dreith said.
"You don't have to be the one getting people across state lines or putting people in your home," she said. "If you have a person in your life that needs an abortion, please give them the information about Missouri Abortion Fund. ... Midwest Access Coalition can get you the care you need no matter where it is, how much money you make or what your family looks like."
It’s important to support political candidates who advocate for abortion rights, along with making sure a candidate keeps their promise, Noce said. None of those are Republicans, she said.
"We don't change Missouri without changing Jefferson City," she said, adding two districts in Boone County, the 47th and 50th, would help break the Republican supermajority in the House if the Democratic candidate wins. Doug Mann is the Democratic candidate running against Republican James Musgraves in the 50th District.
"We need an initiative petition enshrining our rights to bodily autonomy and legislators fighting for you in the Missouri House and Senate."
Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Please consider subscribing to support vital local journalism.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Abortion rights rally held outside Boone County Courthouse
