Rally For Abortion Rights In Essex County Sees Support From NJ Democrats

MONTCLAIR, NJ — After the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision earlier this year, it set off a firestorm of controversy across the nation – including in Essex County, New Jersey. Many political pundits had predicted that the abortion debate would lose steam as the 2022 mid-term election nears, and the public’s focus would shift to other issues such as inflation and the economy.

But don't tell that to the hundreds of people who showed up in Montclair last weekend.

On Saturday, a coalition of New Jersey advocates and a high-profile roster of Garden State Democratic leaders gathered at a “March to ROEvember” rally to support reproductive rights, including abortion. Activists said the protest was an important show of solidarity as the November general election draws closer.

The march began at Montclair City Hall and included a lineup of speakers who pushed for “protecting women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights and freedoms, preventing federal bans on abortion, electing a pro-choice majority in the Senate and House, and taking action in support of the values that the vast majority of New Jerseyans embrace.”

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It’s worth noting that the Supreme Court’s decision has also seen support in Essex County, however.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin, leader of the Archdiocese of Newark – which serves nearly 1.3 million Catholic residents in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties – released a statement about the Supreme Court ruling in June.

According to Tobin, the court’s decision “recognizes that even the most helpless and dependent human beings have a right to life and possess inherent dignity and worth.”

“Abortion is not health care,” Tobin wrote. “It is a disastrous attempt to create a false equivalency between the taking of innocent human life and the ‘reproductive health’ of women in our society.”

• See related article: Court's Abortion Ruling Stirs Fierce Controversy In Essex County

Now that the court has overturned the decisions, it will be up to states to decide the future of abortion within their own borders.

In New Jersey, abortion access is protected by state law via the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act, which Gov. Phil Murphy signed earlier this year.

• See related article: NJ Abortion Law Sees Fierce Controversy; Here's What It Will Do
• See related article: Abortion Access Would Remain In New Jersey If Roe v. Wade Overturned

MARCHING IN MONTCLAIR

Saturday’s rally in Montclair was spearheaded by a large coalition of advocacy groups from across New Jersey.

According to a news release from organizers, the list included: BlueWaveNJ, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, New Jersey Education Association, New Jersey Working Families, New Jersey Citizen Action, 32BJSEIU, Action Together New Jersey, Bangladeshi American Women’s Development Initiative, Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, Cherry Hill Women's Center, CWA District 1 New Jersey, Garden State Equality, Indivisible Central NJ, J Street New Jersey, JOLT USA, Latina Civic Action, Latino Action Network Foundation, Make the Road NJ, National Organization for Women, NJ 11th For Change, NJ Resistance, North Jersey Sierra Group, Northern New Jersey NOW, Our Revolution Essex County, Our Revolution NJ, Out Montclair, People’s Organization For Progress, The Resistance Cafe!, Trans Affirming Alliance, UU Faith Action NJ, and Women for Progress.

“Access is critical in this moment,” urged Tatiana Castrillon, field director with the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey.

“Across the state, Planned Parenthood health center staff stand at the ready to ensure that everyone who travels to a health center for care - whether they are a New Jersey resident or are forced to travel here from another state - can get the reproductive health care they need and deserve,” Castrillon said.

It isn’t only women who need to rally around the issue, added Celeste Fiore, an attorney and founder of Trans Affirming Alliance.

“The fight for reproductive justice and the fight for bodily autonomy are inextricably linked,” Fiore said.

“Those seeking access to life-saving and life-affirming medical treatment are under attack in some of the United States of America and we must be vigilant that there are no more rollbacks of our basic human right to choose what happens to our bodies,” Fiore added. “Let's also not forget that transgender and non-binary people get pregnant, and get other people pregnant, so we must be part of the reproductive justice conversation.”

“Getting out the vote this November is not just a women’s issue,” agreed Laura Bustamante, campaign manager for New Jersey Immigrant Alliance For Immigrant Justice.

“It’s an immigrant justice issue, a queer issue, a worker issue, a health care issue, a climate issue, and so much more,” Bustamante said. “Immigrants take up an increasing share of the New Jersey electorate and our communities expect lawmakers to act in our interests and for the rights and protection of our people.”

DEMOCRATIC LEADERS SPEAK IN MONTCLAIR

Saturday’s rally in Montclair also drew support from elected officials including U.S. senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, U.S. House members Mikie Sherrill, Bonnie Waston Colman and Donald Payne Jr., State Senator Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey.

“We’re all here today because we agree the Supreme Court was dead wrong to overturn Roe,” Sherrill charged.

The congresswoman – who has made abortion a central spoke of her campaign versus Republican challenger Paul DeGroot in the 11th Congressional District – said the decision to have an abortion shouldn’t be made by state legislators … it should be decided by a woman and her doctor. Read More: Sherrill, DeGroot Use Abortion Debate To Rally Voters In NJ-11 (Videos)

“We’re all here today because we know what’s at stake on November 8,” Sherrill said. “Today, we make it clear we aren’t going back. And we’re leaving no one behind.”

Other support at Saturday’s protest came from:

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman – “The Supreme Court’s decision threatens not just our right to our bodies- it threatens other freedoms protected by the right to privacy. They will come for our right to contraception. They will come for our right to love who we love. They will come marriage equality. Don’t ask me — ask Justice Clarence Thomas, who bragged about it in his written opinion.”

Congressman Donald Payne Jr. – “I thank the turnout today, which was just as strong as when we heard the verdict come down. The energy is still here, and we are going to continue to fight. Women and all who need support for their reproductive health should continue to have the right to choose.”

NJ Senator M. Teresa Ruiz – “It’s important to galvanize every voter this ROEvember. I’m an elected official who is not on the ballot, but as a woman my body is. And we need to support pro-choice candidates.”

NJ Assemblywoman Mila Jasey – “I have been in this fight for 50 years, and we will not go back.”

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