R.I. teach-in raises awareness about abortion rights
On Wednesday, March 2nd, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Brown Medical Students for Choice and the Rhode Island Coalition for Reproductive Justice are coming together to host a teach-in on local and national threats to abortion rights. The motivation behind the panel came from the...
On Wednesday, March 2nd, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Brown Medical Students for Choice and the Rhode Island Coalition for Reproductive Justice are coming together to host a teach-in on local and national threats to abortion rights. The motivation behind the panel came from the state’s recent ‘F’ rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America, a national organization that seeks to help with state abortion-rights efforts. This puts Rhode Island in the company of states like Texas and South Dakota, where 93% and 98% of state counties do not have abortion providers. This is rare for states in New England, with Rhode Island being the only one to get an F.
The organizations holding the event say the failing grade is due to state laws that explicitly forbid a guaranteed right to abortion. New state laws also prohibit abortion coverage for public employees.
Director of Public Policy for Rhode Island’s Planned Parenthood, Craig O’Connor, says tonight’s teach-in aims to educate Rhode Islanders on local threats to reproductive health that most residents are oblivious to.
“We have polling that says an overwhelming majority of Rhode Islanders support reproductive health care, including abortion. We also have polling that says most Rhode islanders don’t know where their own local elected officials stand on the issues.”
However, pro-choice supporters like Lauren Galvan, the president of Students for Life at Brown University, says she disapproves of this teach-in, because it does not include pro-life perspectives.
Tonight’s panel comes on the same day that the Supreme Court begins hearing arguments for Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt. This case will determine whether the recent Texas Abortion law, which will close 34 of the 40 clinics in the state, is unconstitutional. The case may be the most important Supreme Court decision about abortion rights since Roe v. Wade.
The teach-in is taking place at Rhode Island College at 6:30 P.M.
Credit: Victoria Pickering. Rally in front of the Supreme Court during Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt hearing.