This week marks two years since the United States Supreme Court decision. dobbs decision, which overturned the court’s decades-old rulings in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey that had affirmed a constitutional right to abortion. Across northern Illinois, activists and community members came together to make their voices heard.
On Saturday, dozens of activists gathered in downtown DeKalb at the “Take Back Our Rights” rally to voice their concerns about recent policy changes affecting women’s reproductive rights. Greeted with cheers and applause, Democratic Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) spoke to attendees about the importance of unity and collective action.
“No matter how you approach this work of defending our freedoms,” he told them, “know that this will take all of us: all of our strengths, all of our focused energy, our unified commitment, and all of our powerful voices. .”
Listening in the crowd was Mary Ellen Schaid, executive director of Safe driving in DeKalb. She believes all voters should take Rep. Underwood’s words to the polls.
“The main thing I would like people to know,” he said, “is that their rights are at risk and that they need to vote, and they need to go out and learn what representatives are on what platforms and they also need to vote for the president.”
Also at the event was Rianne Hawkins. She is the Senior Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at Illinois Family Planning. Since Dobbs’ decision, Planned Parenthood health clinics, including several new ones along the Illinois border, have served patients from 41 states. Speaking to attendees, Hawkins emphasized the power of collective action through conversation and vulnerability.
“Please don’t be complacent,” he admonished the group, “please talk to your friends and neighbors about how important this issue is, share your stories. “I know a lot of people in this room probably have a personal story, please share it because it can make a big difference.”
Meanwhile, in Rockford, several pro-life advocates attended the fourth annual “Walk for Life and Family.” Kevin Rilott is the lead organizer and president of Rockford Family Initiative. He says the event is meant to express love and respect for everyone, even if people differ religiously and politically.
“One of the main goals of the Rockford Walk for Life,” she said, “was to bring together people from different churches and different organizations, to make a public statement that the pro-life community is a joyful group of people who love God and love our neighbors, and that simply walking through our city was a way to show people that we are here because we care about ending abortion and helping mothers.”
Since the Dobbs decision, the Rockford Family Initiative has held prayer sessions outside reproductive health clinics and Rilott has organized events similar to the “Walk for Life and Family.” However, in addition to amplifying the voices of the pro-life community, Rilott believes that activists must unite everywhere. ideological lines.
“I would love,” he said, “to sit down and talk to people who support abortion; and again, the first thing is to listen and the second thing is to share with them what I have seen, and then see, what can we do together to make our community a better place?
Rally efforts like those in DeKalb and Rockford are now moving toward the November elections as voters come together in what could be the largest demonstration of collective action since 2020.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.