By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
When Makayla Williams first read about the leaked draft of a Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade, she knew she had to act.
She said that she viewed this draft decision not just as an attack on a woman’s right to end a pregnancy: She sees this ruling, were it to come to pass, as the beginning of “a domino effect of taking away women’s rights on what to do with their bodies.” Roe v. Wade was a pivotal decision in terms of women’s health care. “It’s not just about abortion,” the recent BGSU graduate said. “It’s about women’s rights.”
Already, she said, some states are not just moving to completely outlaw abortion, but also outlawing traveling to another state to get an abortion. Some states are moving toward banning birth control, including Plan B, the morning after pill, which is now available without a prescription. Some women are stockpiling it against the possibility of it no longer being available.
For Williams, this is not just a matter of choice; it is a matter of life and death.
She suffers from two serious conditions –endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome. The symptoms of these are treated with birth control medications. That’s what she needs to mitigate some of the pain.
Williams’ plan, after she received bachelor’s degree in psychology, was to go to graduate school to become a clinical counselor. That’s been put on hold as she seeks treatment and deals with chronic pain.
But when she learned of this threat to health care, Williams knew she had to act. “Not only could I lose my autonomy, I could lose my life. That the government doesn’t understand that we need these things made me furious.”
So drawing inspiration from the national Bans Off Our Bodies movement, she organized the rally Friday afternoon at the Wood County Courthouse. The rally drew about 50 people many holding hand made signs.
“Abortion Is Health Care.” “Protect Women’s Health Choices.” “My Body My Choice.” “Bodily Autonomy Is a Human Life.” “Safe Abortions Save Lives.”
Those at the rally ranged from women in their teens to those in their 80s. Some had marched on Washington D.C. 50 years ago for abortion rights.
Their attitude, she said, was they had to fight for this once, now they have to fight for it again on behalf of their grandchildren.
“In 2022, it baffles me that we’re even talking about this,” Williams said. “Having people there my age and having people there in their 70s and 80s standing with us to help us keep autonomy is wonderful. But it made me incredibly angry knowing that in their lifetime, they already fought against this injustice and now they have to do it again.”
She sanguine about how much impact this one protest in Bowling Green will have. But she does hope the cumulative weight of the protests across the country may sway the Supreme Court justices.
