Charlotte Varcoe
PRO-CHOICE activist Claire Moore has declared abortion rights overturned in America as a “war on all women” ahead of a protest planned for Mount Gambier tomorrow.
Earlier this week, the American Supreme Court overturned a 1973 decision to protect a pregnant woman’s right to choose to have an abortion which has left it up to each State of America to make its own laws regarding abortion.
Watching the situation unfold from across the globe, Ms Moore soon put into action an opportunity for local pro-choice supporters to stand in solidarity with women around the world.
“The decision really affects women across the world and I wanted to do something, so I looked at whether there were any local protests and when I found out the closest one was in Adelaide I knew I couldn’t make it so I decided to start one myself,” Ms Moore said.
Gathering support quickly from others across the community, Ms Moore said she did not want to be someone who “sat down and did nothing”.
The changes come as a law passed more than a year ago to remove abortion from South Australia’s criminal code will be enacted on July 7.
Ms Moore said the State Government changes highlighted the support of women’s rights.
“Having abortion decriminalised over here makes it a lot easier for women to be able to reach out and get access to those services and not feel ashamed to have to take that step,” she said.
“We are just fortunate to live in a country and in a State that supports and backs women’s rights because if we, as women, go down then we all go down together.”
Members of the community interested in participating in the protest are able to meet Ms Moore at Vansittart Park tomorrow at 1pm at the rotunda with the artillery gun.
