International Women’s Day Brings Pro-Choice Rallies to Austin

By Eden Shamy

Reporting Texas

Executive Director of Jane’s Due Process Lucie Arvallo gives a speech about International Women’s Day on March 8 for the “Yeehaw for Abortion” event at Future Front House in East Austin. Eden Shamy/Reporting Texas

Austinites marked International Women’s Day on March 8 with pro-choice parties, and rallies at the Texas Capitol drew hundreds of protesters.

“Women created this planet. We are the world,” said Minx Leal, an organizer with Women’s March.

The afternoon rally protested discrimination against women and called for an end to the state’s near-total abortion ban. The Republican-controlled legislature is seeking to strengthen the ban with bills that restrict abortion pills, target abortion funds and establish criminal penalties for obtaining an abortion. Despite these proposals, local abortion funds came together to throw a “Yeehaw for Abortion” in East Austin.

“You say no choice, we say pro-choice,” women and girls chanted outside the Capitol.

Protesters expressed concern about women’s rights around the world from sexual violence to education and health care – but abortion stood at the forefront. One proposed bill would classify abortion as a homicide, which could lead to criminal punishments like the death penalty for women and doctors.

“My concern is for our girls,” Leal said. “They’re now going to be raised in a world that is even more damned than it was 20 years ago.”

Meanwhile, local abortion funds decorated Future Front House – a local creative community space – with pink balloons, lined tables with contraceptives and set up a photo booth in preparation for their first-ever “Yeehaw for Abortion.”

“Especially on a day as important as International Women’s Day, we want to send the message that abortion care is a human right,” said Lucie Arvallo, executive director of Jane’s Due Process.

Jane’s Due Process is a local nonprofit that provides teenagers contraception, STI testing and funding to travel out of the state for an abortion. Their community engagement manager Ariana Rodriguez paved the way for this unique event.

“Young people deserve safe spaces where they can get to know other young people, that they can get accurate information, (and) that they can feel joy,” Rodriguez said.

Last November, Jane’s Due Process received $100,000 from the city’s new “Reproductive Justice Fund.” However, another law proposed by Republicans would ban the government from funding or working with “abortion assistance entities.” Still, Arvallo and Rodriguez remained positive.

“There is current legislation that specifically targets abortion funds in an attempt to intimidate us,” Arvallo said. “We’re really here to send the message that we aren’t going anywhere.”

They also championed laws filed by Democrats that would weaken the abortion ban and make contraception more accessible to Texans. Rosie’s Law would expand health care coverage for abortion. The My Body, My Future Act would allow minors to get birth control without parental consent.

“Truly, no matter who is in office or who sits on the seats of our highest courts, we’re going to be here to provide the support that young Texans need and deserve,” Arvallo said.