If you keep up with the news you probably heard that Texas recently passed a new abortion law. Though this is no surprise, it is absolutely ridiculous that abortion is still a controversial issue. The new Texas law that was just enacted specifically inhibits women over six weeks pregnant to get an abortion. Logistically, this makes it close to impossible for women to go through with the process. It is very uncommon to even know you’re pregnant by the sixth week. Even if a woman thinks there is a possibility that she is pregnant that early, she would have to take a couple of pregnancy tests and then schedule an appointment in the first six weeks. Not to mention, pregnancy tests can be inaccurate that early on and sometimes they won’t detect the pregnancy in the very beginning. It is clear that Texas knows that they’re making an abortion next to impossible for women, which is the ultimate goal.  

Texas is not the only state that is trying to prohibit women from accessing abortions. According to ABC News, Arkansas, Florida, South Dakota, Idaho, Indiana, and Oklahoma are looking to follow Texas. The influence that Texas has over other red states in the country is frightening.  

This law is creating a domino effect that is taking away the rights of women. My question is: How are women’s rights still going backwards? Why does this country still feel the need to limit the decisions we can make for ourselves? Many other women and men who sympathize with the cause have been asking the same questions, which is why a national march was held on October 2nd, 2021 to protest the Texas law.  

Last Saturday, the Dub (a campus theme house) gathered some St. Lawrence students to participate in the protests in the village of Canton. We joined PlannedParenthood and marched through town. I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of support from people driving by. We did get some backlash but it was expected.  

The age groups that participated in the March ranged from children to elderly people who live in Canton. I was so happy to see older men and women supporting the cause. It gives me hope for the future to see that these people still want to see a change and are not willing to give up. It’s sad that women’s rights issues haven’t been resolved in their lifetime, but it is nice for different generations to come together to support the same issue.  

I am glad that the country decided to come together to protest this dehumanizing law, however, the fact that this is still an on-going issue in 2021 is beyond me. Madyson McCarthy, at St. Lawrence freshman who participated in the march, says, “It was very emotional and thought provoking to still be seeing women fight for the rights that they all deserve”. McCarthy is right in saying that these are rights that all women deserve to have, and the government should not get a say in the matter. This is a personal and private choice that has been completely publicized for no justified reason. The only people who are affected by having the choice to get an abortion are the women who consider getting one. The government must allow women to make their own decisions regarding their bodies. As Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said, “The emphasis must not be on the right to abortion, but on the right to privacy and reproductive control”.