On Tuesday, activists around the country stood up for abortion rights under the hashtag and rallying cry: Stop the Bans. The national day of action was called for by the ACLU, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, moveon.org, among other organizations.
On the Vineyard, women, families with young children, husbands and grandparents gathered at Five Corners to lend their voices to the cause. Many came bearing signs, and all came ready to shout.
Carla Cooper, creator of Vineyard Women Strong—Stop the Bans, helped organize the rally.
“Today is a national day of action to make a big splash against these draconian abortion bans in Alabama and Georgia and Missouri,” she said at the event.
Ms. Cooper added that she was pleased with the early turnout. “If I get 20 people on the Vineyard I feel happy about that, so I’m already happy.”
Susan Desmarais was one of the first people to arrive. She has worked for years as a mental health services professional on the Island, and recently served as a bereavement counselor for women who have experienced stillbirth, miscarriage or abortion.
“I’m old enough to remember when abortion was not legal in the state of Massachusetts and I remember what the girls in my high school went through,” she said. “All of women’s freedoms rest on reproductive freedoms.”
A car horn, one of many, beeped in support as Ms. Demarais finished her thought.
“Thank you! Thank you!” she shouted in return.
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