Students, faculty and supporters of Planned Parenthood protested Congressman Luke Messer’s office on Walnut St. Thursday in support of access to birth control.
Tax plans coming to the Senate floor aren’t the only bills that would potentially strip support from the Affordable Care Act. In October, the Trump administration issued a mandate on the ACA that gives employers more leeway to deny employees birth control coverage through employment benefits based off of moral or religious grounds.
The protest, organized by Josh Ratel-Khan, a senior public communications and political science major, supported HR 4082 — a bill currently referred to the House of Representatives’ subcommittee on health that, if passed in both chambers, will repeal the ACA mandate.
Protestors felt positively about their efforts, including district 34 Representative and 17-year Planned Parenthood employee Sue Errington.
“As a lawmaker, it’s important to me that other lawmakers look at all sides of an issue,” Errington said. “Of course, we’re in the business of trying to persuade each other to our cause, so this is one that I feel is very important, and I’m hoping that our congressman is open to the views of all his constituents.”
When the protesters first arrived to the room on Walnut Street, people working in Messer’s office locked the outside doors and said the protestors needed appointments to come inside. Minutes later, the doors were opened and protestors were invited inside.
To Errington, supporting birth control access means supporting opportunities for young women, especially those on college campuses.
“When I was a college student, the pill had just come on the market. But — it was difficult,” Errington said. “Employers could ask you about your plans and make decisions because you’re a woman, and say, ‘Well, I don’t think she’s going to be around very long. She’s going to have a family.’ That’s not the case today.”
It was unclear whether Messer was in his office during the time protestors turned in a 700-signature petition in support of HR 4082 to his desk staff.
Nevertheless, Cade Heaton, a junior political science and philosophy major, did not think the protest’s efforts were in vain.
“I’m not hopeful that Congressman Messer will change his mind and support the legislation we’re asking him to, but I do think it’s important that we did get the chance to say what we care about and stand up for the things we believe in,” Heaton said.
Ratel-Khan said Muncie’s Planned Parenthood hosts events monthly.
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