January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court made the decision to legalize abortion across the United States, receiving praise from and issues from others. June 24, 2022, Roe V. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, causing many to feel that women’s rights were being violated by the decision.
This led to people rallying all over the country to show their dissatisfaction over the decision, including those in Muncie, Indiana. On July 4, 2022, people gathered in downtown Muncie to show their support against the overturning.
People of different ages, ethnicities and genders showed up for the peaceful protest with signs showing their dissatisfaction. Those in attendance were hoping to get the attention of Todd Young, the United States senator for Indiana, so that he will take action against this overruling.
There were more in attendance at the rally than initially expected, showing the unity of the Muncie Community against this issue. Cecilia Gray said she was surprised about the number of people in attendance and said she came to the rally to stand up for what she believes are her rights.
“I think it’s a really good turnout,” Gray said. “It’s our basic human rights and we should stand up for them because if five people on the Supreme Court can choose the control we have over our body, they can choose anything and that is scary.”
This kind of testament was shared by others in attendance, with one of those who helped put the event together, Chelsea McDonnel, saying she believes, like Gray, that the overturning of Roe V. Wade takes away women’s rights.
“Rights have been taken away in America,” McDonnel said. “That’s not what America is about, we don’t take rights, we give rights.”
McDonnel, along with other volunteers at the event, handed out water to make sure everyone there was being taken care of. McDonnel said she helped organize this event because she wants to give young girls the same rights she had growing up.
McDonnel recalled her interaction with her young daughters when the verdict came out to overturn the decision on Roe V. Wade.
“The first thing I did was, I hugged my daughters and I cried,” McDonnel said. “I told my teenage daughter that I don’t know how to make her feel more important in a country that thinks so low of her.”
The feeling people had when this decision was made is one that has, in some form, divided the United States, with some people feeling that it was a great decision and others fearing for their future because of the impact Roe V. Wade had on passing other laws that reinforced people’s rights. Austin, who decided to keep his last name disclosed, is fearful of what the future may hold for other rights that were dependent on Roe V. Wade.
“How far will this extend in terms of when we start looking at contraceptive rights, when we start looking at the right to gay marriage,” Austin asked. “We will continue to lose rights, that is what late-stage capitalism looks like.”
Benjamin (who, like Austin, opted not to share his last name) also spoke out about his fear of what this ruling may bring. He believes that this ruling is “only the beginning.”
“Our access to contraception, our access to [choose] who we love, our access to interracial marriage, our access to trial by jury, our access to anything that is not codified in laws is at stake,” Benjamin said.
For those who didn’t want Roe V. Wade to be overturned, there were those who believe it should have been, as a group of counter-protestors came to the rally to show their opposition. Riding in a black pickup truck, they had a sign tied to their car that read “Stop the Murder of Babies Baby Lives Matter End Abortion”.
This direct opposition almost turned the peaceful protest violent when counter-protestors started sticking out their middle finger to the crowd, almost causing a confrontation between both sides. The counter-protestors continued to circle around the event until everyone left.
With the countless rallies and peaceful protests like this taking place across the United States, there will be more and more citizens picking sides. Austin said he hopes to see a change.
“[I hope] this is enough,” Austin said. “I hope that we start reversing this tide of capitalist, fascist, authoritarianism that strips away the rights of the people.”
Contact Joseph McKeigue with comments via email at Jpmckeigue@bsu.edu.
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