Crowds march in favor of reproductive rights

Two towns in the Northwest Corner, Salisbury and Kent, held Women’s Marches on Oct. 2, along with over 600 other places across the country, to support reproductive rights and justice. Both locations had large and active crowds, with attendees of all ages. 

In Salisbury, where the event began at 2 p.m., more than 150 people met on the green at The White Hart and held signs with messages about women “controlling their own bodies.” They heard from multiple speakers, including state Rep. Maria Horn (D-64), who said, “This is about the women who can’t be here, and it’s incumbent on those here to stand up for them. If Roe goes away, it will not stop abortion, just safe, legal abortion.” 

Episcopal priest Heidi Truax of Trinity Church in Lime Rock encouraged all to “really see each other and to have compassion and respect for others.” Debra Frank, one of the Salisbury march organizers, said, “Abortion is health care, plain and simple. Young people born after 1973 may not realize there weren’t always reproductive rights. We are as close now as we’ve ever been since 1973 to losing those rights.”

There were five counter protestors along the periphery of the demonstration. Jenifer Clarke of Lakeville said she gathered two sisters and two friends to come to the event and express the opposing view to the much larger crowd of reproductive rights advocates. “Abortion is not a choice, it’s a death,” she said in an interview. 

In Kent, the march began at 10 a.m., with around 300 people in attendance. Organizer Leslie Levy handed out all 150 of her free pink masks. The march proceeded along Greenward Way and down Main Street to the Civil War monument, where it then turned to Falcon Field. Signs of every dimension and sentiment were abundant, with many messages of fear and hope for retaining reproductive rights. 

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz spoke strongly, saying, “A threat to women’s health anywhere is a threat to women’s health everywhere. We must vote at every opportunity,” and she encouraged more women to run for office. 

State Rep. Maria Horn thanked all and said she was thrilled to see so many involved. CPTV’s “Common Ground” host, Jane Whitney, said, “Despair is not an option.” Kent First Selectman Jean Speck said, “This tiny little march has a voice that can be heard everywhere.”

Women’s Marches were held in Salisbury and Kent on Oct. 2. Photo by Lans Christensen

Photo by Janet Manko

The marches themselves were an eloquent expression of fears evoked by the Texas abortion legislation; but signs with a variety of messages also helped men and women of all ages let their feelings be known. Photo by Janet Manko

Photo by Lans Christensen

Women’s Marches were held in Salisbury and Kent on Oct. 2. Photo by Lans Christensen