On June 24th, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a decision that had stood for almost 50 years, and thereby stripped away any constitutional protections for abortion.
Last Saturday, October 8th, around 200 people gathered at the UW Library Mall in Madison and marched to the state capitol, demanding abortion rights, reproductive health care, and health care for all who need it. The action was organized by the Madison Abortion and Reproductive Rights Coalition for Health Care, or MARRCH. And a banner proclaiming ‘Labor for Abortion Rights’ was prominent at the action. One of those holding the banner was Derrith, a retired member of the Tire and Rubber Workers’ Union.
Mariah, a nurse at UW Health who is also part of the struggle to organize a union there, says that the June Supreme Court decision has already had a serious negative impact on health services. Mariah explains why this is an issue for the labor movement and all working people.
Victoria Gutierrez, an organizer for MARRCH, a member of SEIU Health and a local nurse, says that the decision has struck at basic health care for working people, not only those who need abortion access.
Lisa Goodman, a journeyman electrician and member of IBEW Local 159, one of the voices of organized labor at Saturday’s march for abortion rights and health care. She was blunt about why labor is fighting on this issue.
MARRCH, the organizers of the event, are continuing to meet and plan regularly. For more information, click on Madison MARRCH.
Story by Greg Geboski. Photo courtesy Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash. Web production by Anyu Li.
