Austin Women’s Rally 2019
A sea (a #Blue Wave!) of women and allies attended the 2019 Women’s Rally at the Texas Capitol Saturday. An upbeat crowd came out to show that yes, we’re still marching, and we’ve got our eyes set on 2020 and the wide road beyond it.
Hosted by TRRR Texas Reproductive Rights Rally (#roevwadetx), the event cast a wide net, picking up where the Women’s March left off this year, and featured a diverse group of speakers, ages 13 and up, who spoke not just about reproductive rights but also about such topics as women’s rights more broadly, immigrant rights, trans and trans-queer rights, racism, gun violence, sexual assault in schools, the wall, and the current threats to our democracy posed by the Trump administration and some of our Texas politicians.
The event was introduced by lead organizer Kym Whitehead, who said, in part,
“Texas Reproductive Rights Rally welcomes you to today’s peaceful and purposeful event, which is an extension of the annual Roe v Wade Anniversary Rally, which we have traditionally held on or near the 20th of January, to celebrate a woman’s right to choose legally safe and sanctioned bodily autonomy as it applies itself to reproductive options.
“This year, we have decided to expand and expound upon the basis of that rally, in order to address the myriad of complex issues that women face in today’s layered and intersectional socio-economic world, in order to provide a broader platform that could be accessed by a wider variety of women in the Greater Austin area, and throughout Texas, with hopes of their stories and their strength resonating throughout our great country and beyond.”
Former state senator Wendy Davis, who set Texas women on fire in 2013 with her 13-hour filibuster of a restrictive anti-abortion bill, recently the founder of Deeds Not Words, was among the speakers — with an assist from her granddaughter.
Other speakers at the event included the following:
Andrea Hughes
Samantha Gonzales
Rep Celia Israel
Micaela Eller
Paula Triets Chaney
McKa’an Zimmerman
Lisa Pous
Jessica Soukup
Thomisina Simpson
Gigi Kahlor
Laramie Gorbett
Shane Whalley
Fatima Mann
Sadie Rodriguez
There were many pussy hats, several chants of “Enough is enough!”, a performance of “Quiet” by the a capella group the Austonettes, and of course, lots of expressive signs.
Attendees largely ignored the few counterprotesters who tried to disrupt the event.
More photos:
For additional reporting: Statesman coverage of the event
Why Are YOU Marching, Texas?
