A rally for body autonomy
A crowd of about 420 people gathers for a “Bans Off Our Bodies” rally to advocate for abortion access and reproductive freedom, an event that followed a nationwide response to leaked information regarding the Supreme Court’s draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade and the constitutional protections for abortion. Sign wavers met outside the old Sears building Saturday morning in Kahului and began lining the street front the Queen Kaahumanu Center throughout the afternoon. Many of the participants held signs reading “My mind, my body, my freedom,” “Abort the court,” and “Preserve my right to choose.” Organizers of the rally, many of which represent the Hawaii Women’s Coalition, plan to have another rally on Saturday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. in West Maui, beginning at the Lahaina Cannery Mall. One of the organizers, Kelli Blair Swan, said that it was exciting how many participated in the nationwide effort.