Roe Overturn Protest Planned

By Dylan Marsh
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CLAREMONT-A demonstration in support of abortion rights has been planned to take place at Broad Street Park on Saturday, July 2, 2022. The protest has been organized by Claremont resident Jillian Chaloux.

From 10 AM-1 PM, Chaloux, along with other organizers, will be flying flags, banners, and bringing attention to the recent Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision. Chaloux will also be helping residents to register to vote and researching political candidates on the local and federal level.

“I have a 20-year-old daughter that serves in the military. It’s an oxymoron to have women serve in our military to be second class citizens,” Chaloux said as one of her reasons to go out and protest.

On Friday, June 24, the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, undoing nearly 50 years of legal precedent. Roe v. Wade was a 1973 decision which ruled that the Constitution of the United States generally protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion. As a result of the decision made by the majority of the Supreme Court, abortion rights will now be a state-by-state decision. 13 states have enacted “trigger laws” that would immediately ban what is referred to as “unnecessary abortions.” At the time of this article, judges in Texas and Louisiana have blocked the banning of abortions in their states.

Residents of Claremont turned out to protest the Roe v. Wade decision on Saturday at the Broad Street Park. A number of community members held signs with slogans such as “Everybody Loves Somebody Who Had An Abortion” and “My Body My Choice” as cars passed by honking in support.

“I think it’s important for elected officials at every level to support something as basic as someone’s reproductive freedom. A lot of people are upset and that’s why we are here tonight. A lot of people are angry and that’s understandable, but you have to show up to vote, you have to donate to people that are going to make a difference like the reproductive freedom fund in New Hampshire. They’re going to be the people on the front lines keeping this going. In a community like Claremont its particularly important that we show up for things like reproductive freedom and abortion access.” said Claremont City Council member Matt Mooshian.

The issue of reproductive rights in New Hampshire remains presently uncertain. Governor Chris Sununu, who ran as a pro-choice candidate, signed one of the most restrictive abortion bans in New Hampshire state history. The bill bans abortion in the state of New Hampshire after 24 weeks of pregnancy. The bill was signed as part of the state’s budget after Republican lawmakers shoehorned the ban into the bill. After the draft concerning Roe v. Wade written by Supreme Court Justice Alito was leaked, Governor Sununu released the following statement:

“As a pro-choice governor, I am committed to upholding Roe v Wade which is why I’m proud of the bi-partisan bill that expands access. So long as i’m governor these health care services will remain safe and legal.”

However, as recently as Monday, Sununu rejected a democratic call for a special legislative session to protect abortion rights in the state of New Hampshire. Other New Hampshire representatives have been significantly more vocal about the abortion rights issue. At a protest highlighting abortion rights issues in May, State Representative Susan DeLemus approached protestors outside the state capitol where she screamed, “Shame on you. You’re killing babies. You’re a murder. I’m a murderer, I murdered my own baby.”