Dozens rally at Olympia Capitol Campus Friday to support abortion rights
A few dozen people gathered at the Capitol Campus in Olympia on Friday to protest a U.S. Supreme Court decision ending the right to abortion.
In a decision released Friday, the court overturned Roe v. Wade. The announcement spurred abortion rights activists across the country to call for and initiate protests.
One such protest started with short notice at 11 a.m. in Olympia. Only a few people showed up at first but by noon there were nearly three dozen people, many with signs, lined up along Capitol Way South in front of the Tivoli Fountain.
Celeste Trimble, a 46-year-old Olympia resident, said she expected the court’s decision, but it still felt like a “gut punch.” In response, she decided to co-organize the impromptu protest.
“I’ve lived my whole life under Roe and it’s hard to conceptualize the ramifications of this ruling,” Trimble said. “It’s so much bigger than abortion rights, which are really important, but its more than that.”
The court’s decision that Roe was “egregiously wrong from the start” could upend the legal framework establishing a right to privacy. This could in turn call into question rights to contraception, sexual intimacy and same-sex marriage.
Louisa Seviér, an 18-year-old Olympia resident, said she rushed to the protest as soon as she heard of it around 10:30 a.m. She said this decision takes away basic rights from people who can get pregnant.
“By being able to control our bodies, it means we’re able to control our future and decide what we want to do with our lives,” Seviér said. “Taking away that choice also takes away that control.”
Seviér, who identifies as a queer woman, added she felt worried about other rights that may be affected by the court’s decision.
“The moment one right is taken away or begins to be erode, then it sets, for a lack of a better term, sets a precedent that other rights can be taken,” Seviér said. “So, it’s either wait and see more bad things happen or come out here and do something.”
For many, abortion rights have personal importance. Lynette Charters Serembe, a 56-year-old Olympia resident, said she has an aunt that benefited from being able to have an abortion.
“If she hadn’t been able to have the abortion when she needed it, she would be dead and she wouldn’t be able to bring up two children (later on),” Serembe said. “The court ruling basically is short sighted and it comes from privilege.”
Mythayah Barney, a 42-year-old Shelton resident, said she came down to Olympia because she felt it was her civic duty to raise her voice for others who will be impacted.
“As a woman, as a mother and as an owner of uterus, it’s my responsibility to be here for my daughters and all those that haven’t come yet that need use to stand for them,” Barney said.
Sylvie McGee, a 67-year-old Olympia resident, said she felt concerned officials in other states may try to prosecute people who get abortions or help others get abortions in places such as Washington state where it’s still legal.
“I think we need to be aware of that when we’re in states that have more protection, where we’re not as immediately fearful of what could happen,” McGee said.
Nicole Gugliotti, a 43-year-old Olympia resident, said she felt terrible about the court’s decision and how it may lead to less rights in her home state of Florida. She came out to protest so she could gather with others who felt the same.
“I just wanted to be around other people and feel I was doing something,” Gugliotti said. “There’s so many things we should be doing but it was just nice to be able to come do something.”
Many passing drivers honked their horns as the group chanted, “Mr. Mr. get your laws off my sister,” and “They say no choice. We say pro-choice.”
Trimble said she felt this type of action helps demonstrate solidarity in the community. But beyond that she hopes people can take more collective action.
“I think it’s really important for all of us to get in touch with our emotions on this and harness that,” Trimble said. “Harness that emotion, that rage for productive purposes.”
This story was originally published June 24, 2022 at 2:16 PM.
