CLARE NORMOYLE
Special to The Leader
Women are fed up.
And rightfully so.
On Oct. 2, SUNY Fredonia held their very own women’s rights march, alongside many other locations across the country, in an effort to rally for women’s reproductive rights.
After the Texas law banning most abortions went into effect in Sept., a national outrage arose.
The ban prohibits women from legally having an abortion once they hit the six week mark during their pregnancy. Which for most is before they even know they’re pregnant.
The law does not make any exceptions for cases involving rape or incest either.
This problem goes beyond Texas. It’s become a nationwide issue, that is now calling for a nationwide answer.
With a focus of getting as many people on-board to protest on Oct. 2, and during the month of October, “The organization [for women’s rights] said it is teaming up with 90 other groups including the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood, SHERO Mississippi, Mississippi in Action, Access Reproductive Care-Southeast, SisterSong, The Frontline and the Working Families Party,” according to The Hill newspaper.
And Fredonia has stepped up and made themselves a part of the solution.
With weeks of planning and research, the march was held at the heart of campus, outside of the university’s Starbucks.
Fredonia’s march’s sole organizer was activist Tim Snider, a super senior.
Snider hoped the march would express “the dissatisfaction that we have with the state of Texas, and the US Government, in its continuation to the disenfranchisement of women here at home, and the total violation of rights of women around the world,” Snider said.
“Although Fredonia may be a small campus and the surrounding community isn’t much bigger, we support each other and support women,” Snider continued.
Both women and men arrived to march. Some of the men held signs saying, “Not My Body Not My Choice.”
“People will march because we all have women in our lives, and should care about them being afforded the same opportunities, experiences and rights over their bodies as men,” Snider said.
The march went from the University Commons on campus, all the way to Barker Common.
As the protest commenced, fierce chants began to bellow down Temple street.
“What do we want? RIGHTS! When do we want it? NOW!”
“Who run the world? GIRLS!”
Cars drove by honking.
People came out of their homes.
Even the elderly wheeled out of the WCA home to see what all the ruckus was about.
All eyes were on the activists as they made necessary noise while marching down the street.
A pit stop in Barker Common was made for the protestors to cheer and rally attention, continuing to shout and chant, in honor of the important day.
Participants in the protest came from all different types of groups and clubs at SUNY Fredonia.
Delta Phi Epsilon sorority sisters, Erin Vaughn, Chelsea Smith and Olivia Walker all marched to take a stand for their rights.
“I am marching for a change in the law in Texas, because everyone has a right to get an abortion,” said Vaughn.
Smith agreed with Vaughn, nodding while expressing that all women should have rights.
“I am here not only for women’s rights but also women empowerment!” said Walker.
Western New York Fredonia TV (WNYF-TV) members attended to show their support as well.
Brianna Howard, the station manager for WNYF-TV said, “I am here today because it is an important cause that more people need to know about.”
Howard’s counterpart, and WNYF’s graphic designer Grace Dixon said, “The reason why I am marching today is because I think the future is female.”
The first [international] march for women’s rights took place in 2017. Located in Washington D.C. and in conjunction with protestors who were there the day after Trump’s inauguration. Trump’s continuous misogynistic comments and constant remarks against women created this reaction.
A reaction that affected not only a country, but a world’s worth of people: women.
Women’s rights isn’t a “trend.” It is a battle women have been fighting for decades now and will most likely have to keep fighting for the foreseeable future.
