Women's March: 'Women are getting ready to fight back like we always have' over abortion
Women's March, the feminist activist organization formed following the 2016 election of President Donald Trump, is gearing up for another massive fight now that a draft opinion was leaked that suggests the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn the abortion rights case Roe v. Wade.
Rachel O'Leary Carmona, executive director of Women's March, which mobilized millions of people to march on Washington, D.C., and in cities around the world in 2017, told the Free Press on Tuesday that the movement has been rekindled by the threat to Roe.
The following is a lightly edited transcript of the conversation:
QUESTION: Can you tell me what you took away from the draft opinion that was leaked to Politico and published Monday night, and what a Supreme Court decision like this could potentially mean for women in America?
ANSWER: We understand that it's a leaked draft opinion and it's not the final order of the court, and until we see the final opinion, abortion is still legal and constitutionally guaranteed in the United States.
But, today we are seeing a worst-case scenario. When this decision actually becomes the law, the consequences will be deadly, and that's really not an exaggeration. It's also not an exaggeration to say that women are getting ready to fight back like we always have.
That's pretty much where where we are today.
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Q: What does Women's March plan to do in the weeks ahead as part of that fight?
A: Today, what is happening is that we have folks gathering at courthouses and federal buildings in their communities across the country at 5 p.m. in their local time and we are working with other groups around ongoing mobilizations between now then decision day and beyond.
Obviously, we have to be careful about alerting the opposition to all of our detailed plans. But it will include scaled mobilizations, marches, likely people putting their bodies on the line in the streets.
More: Whitmer: If Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, I'll fight for Michigan abortion rights
What we are preparing for and organizing for is a response that will make the (Associate Justice Brett) Kavanaugh protests look small by comparison.
Women will become ungovernable as these unjust laws begin to be the law of the land in states across the country.
Q: Do you envision another Women's March on Washington akin to what was organized in January 2017?
A: I do think that people will mobilize in those numbers. And Women's March is absolutely planning a mobilization. Beyond that, we will get back to you about our concrete plans. We hope to have some clarity in the next 24 hours.
Obviously, I think, caught us all by surprise. And so we're just making sure that we're being responsible in terms of safety and security. This particular issue really has been met with violence by our opposition. ... We just want to make sure that everyone is safe and on the same page before we make any public statements.
More: If Roe v. Wade is overturned, could Michiganders go to Canada for an abortion?
Q: In Michigan, there is a 1931 abortion ban on the books that was nullified by Roe. If the Supreme Court makes the decision to reverse Roe, as we anticipate it likely will, is there anything Women's March is planning to maintain access to abortion in this state and others like it?
A: When the decision comes down, you know, there will be states like you mentioned that have trigger laws, and there'll be networks of folks, some of whom we're in partnership with and some of whom are independent and working outside of coalitions, who will be organizing and helping to finance trips for folks across state lines. And of course, there's always self-managed medication abortions. So folks will be able to access that.
We're not just going to allow this to happen and say, 'Oh, well' and throw our hands up. We are going to continue to fight for federal legislation, statewide protections and try to do everything that we can as quickly as we can to restore full rights for everybody who is seeking abortion or reproductive health care in general.
Q: Do you see this as a slippery slope? Do you think that first the U.S. Supreme Court could reverse Roe, and then also seek to repeal gay marriage, access to contraception, etc.?
A: My take on it is this is that this is what the GOP does when they're in power is that they roll back individual rights. And so we right now are seeing an attack on abortion rights, but they have already pivoted from these states to a federal ban. They are now looking for a federal ban.
There are some states where GOP extremists are starting to try to regulate birth control and, yes, I think that LGBTQ rights is a very slippery slope.
I think that in their perfect world, all of those things would come to pass, which is why we have to get out and fight.
More: What Michigan politicians are saying about Roe v. Wade leak, possible abortion ban
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Sometimes it feels like, well, I live in ... Wisconsin or Massachusetts, and what happens in Texas is not going to affect me. But the fact is that it does. We have to understand that now more than ever and have a commitment to interdependence and solidarity because the fact is, is that that this is all a part of a larger, coordinated attack on democracy and none of us will be unscathed. Not women, not queer and trans folks, not poor people, not people of color. No one.
This is a gambit by a small group of wealthy white men whose political platform is so anti-democratic and plainly self-interested that it can't win in a fair vote. So they have to get an unfair day in court, and that's what they've been working on.
Q: Where should people look for messages for information about what's coming up and how they can be part of Women's March actions?
A: This is a grassroots effort that we are trying to amplify. So the best thing for folks to do is to get on social media and look for their for an action locally. It should be relatively evident for folks and if it's not evident, make it evident. Start it yourself. Get up, get a marker, get a sign and go out there and make your voice heard.
Moving forward, you'll be able to follow Women's March social media for any updates. We also work in coalition with Planned Parenthood pretty regularly and so we are partnered with them on activities around reproductive health rights and injustice.
Contact Kristen Jordan Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kristenshamus.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Women's March: 'Women are getting ready to fight back' over abortion
