THE
Daily Egyptian SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916.
DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021
VOL. 104, ISSUE 26
People of Carbondale march against the attack on reproductive rights “Here in America, somewhere between 6% and 22%... [women will terminate] the pregnancy because of an abusive relationship, and often concern for their children was the determining factor issue in choosing an abortion.” - Rose Robinson-Berkman
Child counselor and domestic violence advocate
An activist holds a sign reading, ”WE ARE NOT OVARY-ACTING” during the March for Reproductive Rights Oct. 2021 in Carbondale, Ill. Sophie Whitten | @swhittenphotography
Jamilah Lewis | @jamilahlewis
The Women’s Center hosted a March for Reproductive Rights on Saturday, Oct. 2 in response to the bills being passed in states limiting abortions including Texas, Florida, Missouri, etc. The event started at 11:00 am at the Carbondale Civic Center with representatives from the Women’s Center, Rainbow Cafe and SIU, all there with information on Women’s rights. Starting at the Carbondale Civic Center, the march went down South Illinois Ave to West Walnut and turned right onto West Freeman Street. It continued right onto South University and ended at the Carbondale Civic Center. Erin Frey, who works at the Women’s Center, located in Harrisburg, said she knows first-hand about what some women go through with reproductive rights and sexual violence/ assault. Frey said they deal with survivors of sexual violence on a regular basis and can’t believe
the government won’t let survivors make their own decisions. “We just feel that it’s really important to get the word out there that […] it’s not as easy as you know just cutting it off as early as six weeks,” Frey said. “It’s not realistic.” The fact that reproductive rights are at risk after the Supreme Court passed Roe v. Wade in the 70s to protect them is scary, Frey said. “Illinois has some of the most progressive laws for sexual violence for it makes our jobs a little bit easier,” Frey said. “We’re doing a really good job and our survivors of sexual violence are being able to be helped and taken care of.” March participant, Goerogeann Hartzog, age 72, is a nurse and understands the struggle it used to be to get an abortion in the past. “I know that young women, especially but not strictly, need them occasionally and sometimes they’re medically necessary,” Hartzog said. “I’m a nurse so I just wanted to make sure I was here today to help speak out in our area.” There were three speakers before the march who gave their personal takes on the state of reproduction rights in America. Child counselor and domestic violence advocate, Rose Robinson-Berkman, spoke about the hold abuse has on victims trapped in unwanted pregnancies. “Pregnancy can be used as a tool of control,” Robinson-Berkman said. “This means things like tampered birth control, lying about the use of birth control […] removing a condom during sex, or through sexual assault.” Please see CARBONDALE MARCH | 8
A woman holds a sign while marching in the March for Reproductive Rights Oct. 2, 2021 in Carbondale, Ill. Sophie Whitten | @swhittenphotography
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