News

By Julia Caulfield

Access to abortion in the U.S. could soon be left up to individual states. A leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court indicates it is set to overturn Roe v Wade – which for the past nearly 50 years has made abortion a right in the U.S. Over the weekend, thousands marched across the country to protest the decision and share their support for reproductive rights. KOTO’s Julia Caulfield was at the march in Telluride and brings this report.

On a bluebird Saturday morning, dozens of Telluridians march down Main Street to share their support for abortion rights.

Signs are emblazoned with slogans including “my body, my choice”, “I’m not ovary-acting”, and “Viva la Vulva”.

Lily Doyle and Lulu Pumayalli are seniors at Telluride High School, and organized the march.

“It just kind of came to this thing where we were like ‘why isn’t there a Women’s March happening? Is there a Women’s March happening?’ No? Let’s do it ourselves,” says Doyle.

She hopes the march will help ignite a fire in the community.

“To the young women, to the middle age women, to the older women, just don’t lose hope, and remember that you have strength in yourself, and you have strength with your fellow women that support you on this issue,” Doyle adds, “We’re not alone in this, and we can overcome this. One way or another.”

Jake Burns shares that belief in the strength of numbers.

“Privately supporting a righteous cause is not as effective as showing public outcry. It’s how grassroots works,” he says, “You can’t do grassroots from your living room or your couch.”

But living in a small, remote community, María Abañil-Rangel says a right to choose isn’t just about abortion, it’s about access to any kind of healthcare.

“Living in a small community you talk about access, and additional barriers that come to that with transportation and other resources, even in the medical field,” Abañil-Rangel notes, “So, I hope that with our presence here today and the continuous efforts, that the community knows that we’re here. So even if we’re a small town, we’re a mighty town.”

The march ends in Elks Park. Doyle, Pumayalli stand up on a picnic table to share some remarks.

“Viva las mujeres. Long live women!” Pumayalli exclaims.

Quickly they open the floor to the group…women born before Roe made abortion legal, girls as young as 8 years old, and all ages in between get up to speak.

“When I was about 26, I was in an unhealthy marriage, and I got pregnant. I was smart enough to know that if my marriage wasn’t working, I certainly shouldn’t have a child. I was able to have an abortion, and everyone should be able to get an abortion if they feel they need it,” says one woman.

“Today’s fertile generations have grown up with the decision of Roe. Just because the Founding Fathers didn’t put the language in our Constitution, does not mean abortion is unconstitutional. We must protect women’s rights,” says a teenager.

Another woman shares, “I cried this morning. I’m so proud of you guys. I’m 51. I don’t think I can have any more kids, but I have friends who’ve had abortions, who’ve had babies when they were young. I have a family member who was raped and had a baby as a result of that. It was her choice. It’s our choice. Never again.”

“I’d like to say that; we control our bodies. That’s why Earth gave us limbs, to control ourselves. I put on pajamas this morning, didn’t take them off,” exclaims an 8-year-old to the roar of the crowd.

“I grew up in a very conservative, Vietnamese, Catholic household. I have been told my whole entire life I did not have control of my body at all. I had to move states, I had to move countries, in order to feel like I regained my rights to my own body,” says a woman, “I love that you, young folks, are showing up and reminding us, older people, what it means to have this fire.”

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to make it’s official ruling on Roe v Wade later this summer. If the Court overturns the case, 21 states are expected to ban, or severely restrict abortion. Earlier this year, Colorado passed legislation to guarantee the right to abortion in the state.