Rally for reproductive rights

Coalition of Local Women’s and Indigenous Rights Organizations Host Black Hills Rally for Reproductive Rights on October 2, 2021

“We need each other. We need to bring our cultural ways of getting along, regardless of skin color. Dig down and show your children that fierceness. We fight for our rights, our lives, our freedom of choice.” -Muffie Mousseaux, Uniting Resilience Founder and Black Hills Rally for Reproductive Rights MC

[Rapid City, SD] – A coalition of local Indigenous and women’s rights organizations are hosting the Black Hills Rally for Reproductive Rights, a march and rally that addresses the threats to reproductive rights posed by the September 2 refusal of the Supreme Court of the United States to strike down a Texas law banning abortions after detection of fetal cardiac activity (usually around six weeks into a pregnancy). Of particular concern to coalition members is the proclamation by our South Dakota governor, Kristi Noem, after the Supreme Court allowed the Texas law to stand, that South Dakota “[should have] the strongest pro-life laws on the books.” In pursuit of this goal, Governor Noem immediately issued an executive order banning the shipment of all mail-order abortion medication to South Dakota.[1]

Governor Noem has stated publicly her desire to ban all abortions, not excluding in cases of rape or incest.[2]

The march begins on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 10 am at Central High School and ends at the Memorial Park Bandshell in Rapid City, SD. The march from Central High School to the Bandshell stretches .7 miles. Attendees who cannot or do not wish to march are invited to join the rally at the Bandshell, where local speakers will address how laws abridging or overturning Roe vs. Wade will harm the health, safety, and well-being of South Dakotans and disproportionately affect its Indigenous, impoverished, and disabled citizens.

“We don’t need legislators making our most personal decisions for us,” Callan Baxter, NOW, SD President, commented. “Our medical decisions are between us and our doctors.”

Our speakers include, among others, Dr. Stephanie Big Crow, a women’s health specialist, and Anna Malena, an RN and midwife. Coalition members organizing the Rally for Reproductive Rights include the South Dakota Chapter of the National Organization for Women, Where All Women are Honored, Democracy in Action, Uniting Resilience, Women of All Red Nations, the He Sapa Voters Initiative, Two Spirit Nation, ACLU-SD, Očetí Šakówin Womxn’s March, Hé Sapa A.I.M. Chapter, and the Očetí Šakowin Caucus.

The National Organization for Women, South Dakota Chapter is also holding a supply drive for Artemis House. Rally attendees who wish to donate items to the Spearfish-based domestic violence shelter may drop items off (including baby wipes, crockpots, liquid laundry soap, and facial wipes) at any of the donation boxes located on the day of the march at Central High School and the Memorial Park Bandshell.

Anyone wanting to learn more about this event can email NOW, SD at nowsouthdakota@gmail.com or 605.787.0108 or visit the march’s event page: www.facebook.com/events/1045342202873236.