This message was written for a rally in solidarity with women nationwide on Tuesday, May 21.
The recent passage of laws limiting or outrightly banning abortion has triggered shock, fear and rage, as manifested by your presence here this evening. For others, these developments are occasions for relief, hope and celebration.
How do we respond to these deep differences in our values and priorities?
We are all pro-life. We must all make choices. Let us protect abortion rights but make that choice meaningful by working for family planning, pre- and post-natal; maternity care; family leave; child care; and a living wage, for starters.
For those who are passionate about protecting the lives of the fetuses, may they also strive to protect the living by ending gun violence, the death penalty and bloodshed of endless wars.
In 1992, the Los Angeles riots took place for six days. They were triggered by a video of a black man, Rodney King, being beaten by a police officer. At the height of the riots, King went on TV and said: We all can get along. We just gotta. We gotta. I mean, we’re all stuck here for a while. Let’s, you know, let’s try to work it out… Let’s try to work it out.
Carol Moss