About 500 rally Tuesday evening in Bellingham to defend abortion rights
“Please join me and hopefully this is one of the last times that we have to band together to ask for rights for our own bodies,” Bellingham City Council member Kristina Michele Martens told more than 500 people at a rally to defend abortion rights Tuesday evening, May 3, at the Whatcom County Courthouse.
Women’s March supporters across the country were called to action to defend abortion rights after a U.S. Supreme Court document signaled the court may overturn Roe v. Wade, according to a Facebook event posted by Marissa McGrath for the 5 p.m. gathering.
“Bring your families, your signs, your stories, your heart, and your commitment to save Roe and access to safe and legal abortion for all who need it,” the post states.
Participants started to arrive at the Whatcom County Courthouse just before 5 p.m., including Bellingham City Council member Hollie Huthman, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-2nd District, and state Reps. Alex Ramel, D-40th, and Alicia Rule, D-42nd.
“Washington state is not going backwards,” Ramel told the crowd. “Republicans want to take away reproductive rights. Democrats want to preserve it.”
“I’m here to stand in solidarity with women and protest when access to reproductive freedom is being threatened right now,” Ramel told The Bellingham Herald.
“I came down here because I’m mad that this is still an issue and I’m concerned for my future children. I’m pissed off that women of color are going to be bearing the brunt of this,” Anneliese Kamola told The Herald.
Max Murphy said he attended in solidarity and said he was also concerned about the Republican Party’s assault on trans rights.
“Trans people with female anatomy are going to be severely impacted by this as well,” he told The Herald. “This is just adding to the list.”
Earlier in the day, Larsen reaffirmed his support for a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion in a news release. He called on the Senate to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to prohibit restrictions on access to safe, affordable reproductive health care.
“For nearly 50 years, the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision has guaranteed a woman’s right to choose. I steadfastly support that right, and I will continue to stand with women and advocates in Washington state and across the country to ensure a woman’s right to access safe reproductive health care,” he said in the statement.
“To echo Governor Inslee, Washington will continue to be a state that strongly supports a woman’s right to choose, and a state that will fight to ensure access to safe, affordable reproductive health care to every person that needs it,” Larsen said.
State Rep. Sharon Shewmake, D-Bellingham, told The Bellingham Herald that she was unable to attend Tuesday evening’s rally because she had a scheduled event in Everson.
But the 42nd District lawmaker said she sent the organizers a statement.
“As long as Democrats control the state legislatures, women’s health will be protected. But we only hold on when you vote,” Shewmake said via Facebook Messenger.
This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 2:51 PM.
