Rally to support reproductive rights draws crowd to Yorkville park

With songs such as “Miss Independent,” “Roar” and “Beautiful” playing in the background, supporters of reproductive rights lined up along the sidewalk Saturday at Yorkville’s Town Square Park, waving signs and chanting.

The rally was one of more than 600 that took place Oct. 2 in all 50 states, showing support for reproductive rights for all, in advance of the U.S. Supreme Court reconvening Monday, Oct. 4, when justices will hear a case that could have ramifications toward reproductive rights and the precedent set by the 1973 Roe v. Wade verdict.

“There have been continued and increased attacks on our reproductive rights, freedom and access to abortion throughout our country,” said Rachel Engelhardt, vice president of the Democratic Women of Kendall County.

Saturday’s rally, Engelhardt said, was a “coalition of individuals and organizations” to “stand up, speak out and let our Supreme Court justices, our elected officials and our fellow public know that we demand that our rights are upheld.

“We are here to support upholding and strengthening Roe v. Wade,” she said. “We must keep the right to have an abortion. We must all have the right to make decisions about our own bodies.”

Signs at Saturday’s rally reflected support for those rights, with slogans that included “Banning Abortion is Barberic” (sic) and “Protect Roe v. Wade.”

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Signs at Saturday’s rally at Yorkville's Town Square Park reflected support for those rights, with slogans including “Banning Abortion is Barberic”, and “Protect Roe v. Wade," in advance of a case before the Supreme Court that could affect reproductive rights and the precedent set by the Roe v. Wade decision. (Shea Lazansky)

Supporters of all ages attended the Yorkville rally Saturday, including Isabelle Gershon, vice president of the Kendall County Young Democrats.

When asked why she and other young adults were present, Gershon said that young adults “are the ones that are going to need these reproductive rights the most.”

“Young people are going to need birth control, Plan B and abortions more often so we can live and have a good future,” Gershon said. “I think it’s important that we show up and fight for our rights so that we can also have a future of rights.

“If Roe v. Wade gets taken down, then that’s our future.”

“We are here to say we need to not just uphold our right to reproductive rights, but we must strengthen Roe v. Wade,” Engelhardt said, adding, “It’s not just enough to have a right to abortion, but we must have access, and that means that we need for it to be accessible, it needs to be funded, it needs to be safe, it needs to be compassionate, and it needs to be something that people can access free of shame and judgment.”