Supporters come out to support “Mat-Su Pro Choice Rally in the Valley”

In response to a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that looks to overturn Roe v. Wade, Stand Up Alaska and Mat-Su Pro Choice held a rally as part of the larger national “Bans off Our Bodies” rallies held across the US this past Saturday.

Dozens and dozens of protesters showed up at Newcomb Park, armed with signs, postcards, and a vocal call to get involved. There were petitions to sign and email addresses for people to call their local representatives, and repeated encouragement to vote in the upcoming primary and elections this year.

Event co-organizer Erin Jackson-Hill, Executive Director of Stand Up Alaska, hopes that people will keep up pressure leading up to the elections in October and November. “We have to keep the pressure up, especially with Senator Murkowski, as she listens to us. It’s important to let her know that we’re not going to forget about this issue, it’s too important. You made this possible by voting for people that were put on the Supreme Court that are making these rulings that are now having an effect on me and my family,” said Jackson-Hill, referring to Murkowski’s votes to confirm Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barret, though Murkowski was the lone Republican to vote against confirming Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.

During the peaceful event, there were calls for attendees to take and post pictures on social media tagging Senator Murkowski to take action.

In between the rally cries of “my body, my choice,” and “Lisa, fix it,” several speakers took to the stand, women young and old, including newly announced senatorial candidate Pat Chesbro.

“This is the most important thing that is going happen this year. This is a direct assault on women, who are sometimes children or sometimes victims of rape,” she said.

Among the sea of women were a surprising number of men on hand to show their support. “I have a daughter and I support Roe rights to choose,” said attendee Matt Byles Gibson.

“I don’t believe that men have any business being involved in a woman’s rights. This issue is between a woman and her doctor, or God if she has one. It’s their right, not ours and we shouldn’t be imposing anything that we can go do against women,” said fellow attendee Jim Cooper.

Another speaker and co-organizer, Natasha Gamache, was impressed with the turnout and expressed gratitude for those who showed up. Gamache hopes that people will get engaged:

“Being a good citizen is not a spectator sport. Participate in rallies and marches in a safe, legal and healthy way. But vote, contact your congress, your senators, and your legislators. We need to get involved, because if we don’t, this is just the first thing we’ll lose.”