ICYMI: Ohio Democrats Rally with Thousands of Ohioans to Tell Republican Politicians: We Won’t Go Back
June 27, 2022
For Immediate Release:
Monday, June 27, 2022
Columbus, OH — In case you missed it, in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, ripping away reproductive rights from millions of Ohio women, the Ohio Democratic Party hosted a rally at the Statehouse Sunday, joined by thousands of Ohioans from across the state.
Featured speakers at the event included: Nan Whaley, Democratic candidate for Governor, Tim Ryan, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, State Rep. Emilia Sykes, candidate for Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, State Rep. Allison Russo, Ohio House Minority Leader, State Rep. Juanita Brent, Ohio Legislative Black Caucus President, Kersha Deibel, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio President & CEO, Dr. Anita Somani, OB-GYN & State Rep Candidate and Elizabeth Walters, Chair Ohio Democratic Party.
Read more about the rally below:
10 WBNS: Politicians join abortion-rights rally in front of Ohio Statehouse
“Sunday’s protests were hosted by the Ohio Democratic Party and joined by Democratic politicians who are encouraging voters to take their anger to the polls.
‘“Friday was the culmination of a 50-year assault on our right to choose,’ said Liz Walters of the Ohio Democratic Party.
‘“In this moment, there are some choices that they can’t take away from us. We can choose between despair and hope. We can choose between apathy and action.’
“Choice was the theme of Sunday’s protests with protestors not only fighting for the right to let women choose but also for upset Ohioans to choose to take action.”
Ohio Capital Journal: A weekend of protests in Columbus following Dobbs decision
“Notably, although not surprisingly, many of the groups spanned generations. Mothers with daughters and even granddaughters showed up together waving handmade signs.
“Picking up on that, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown noted up he was there with his wife, his daughters and grandkids. Brown told the crowd ‘we need a plan,’ and argued for electing two new Democratic U.S. Senators and maintaining the Democratic majority in the House.
‘“If we have two more Democrats, we will change the filibuster rules, so that a majority can speak,’ Brown said. ‘All we’re asking for is majority rule.’
“One candidate looking to flip a Senate seat in Brown’s plan spoke to the crowd as well. Ohio Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Tim Ryan described the whiplash of marching to the Supreme Court building on Friday to protest with his 18-year-old daughter, in D.C. for an internship, alongside fellow congresswomen who were part of the fight that led to Roe in the first place.
“While Ryan and Brown made the case for federal action, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Nan Whaley made a more immediate, explicit argument.
‘Ohio is ground zero for this fight,’ Whaley insisted. ‘We are one of the largest states in the country where abortion is on the ballot.’
“Whaley called Gov. Mike DeWine the ‘most anti-choice governor in the country’ and chastised him for urging people to be civil in the wake of the decision. What’s civil about taking away rights, forcing women to maintain a pregnancy or risk dying on an operating table she asked.
‘This is not a drill. This is not a hypothetical,’ Whaley told the crowd. ‘Our lives and our children’s lives are on the line. I refuse to go back and I know I am not alone.’”
NBC 4: Ohio Democrats speak at statehouse rally on Supreme Court abortion ruling
“Leaders of Ohio’s Democratic party spoke at the Ohio Statehouse Sunday at a rally two days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, effectively eliminating the constitutional right to abortion.
“Among the Democratic speakers at the ‘We Won’t Go Back’ rally included gubernatorial candidate Nan Whaley, current U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, and U.S. Senate candidate Tim Ryan.
‘“We got an out-of-touch legislature and a really out-of-touch governor who have been spending their entire careers to take away a right,’ Whaley said.
“Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters said the rally had at least 3,000 people in attendance.
“Sunday’s rally comes two days after hundreds protested in downtown Columbus just hours after the court’s ruling. It is estimated that nearly 3,000 people attended Sunday’s event.”
Statehouse News Bureau: Ohio’s six-week abortion ban sparks protests, politics, and praise
“For other Ohioans, this was a call to political action. Thousands gathered on the Ohio Statehouse lawn on Sunday, carrying signs and chanting for change.
“U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, joined other political leaders, including Nan Whaley, Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, and Tim Ryan, U.S. Senate Democratic nominee.
“Brown said the power is with the people this November when Ohio holds a general election for every statewide position along with a U.S. Senate race. Brown said, if they vote for Democrats at all levels, they can affect change.
‘“By this time next year, the Senate and the House of Representatives will have codified Roe v. Wade. And by this time next year, President Biden will have signed into law a bill to make abortion rights the law of the land,’ Brown said to a cheering crowd.”
“Thousands gathered at the Ohio Statehouse on Sunday to express their deep anger at the recent U.S. Supreme Court Decision to allow states to restrict abortion access.
“On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that Americans no longer have a constitutional right to abortion, a watershed decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and erases a reproductive right the high court established nearly five decades ago.
“As many as 3,000 people attended the event Sunday morning and afternoon, where many expressed their deep anger, frustration and desperation at a move they said undermines their fundamental rights. The demonstrators reflected a wide range of ages, and many families brought their children to the event.
“Several Democratic elected officials and candidates spoke during the rally.
“Former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, the Democrats’ candidate for governor, said that if current Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is reelected, abortion rights in Ohio will be completely erased.”
Toledo Blade: Hundreds gather in Columbus for abortion-rights rally
“People from across Ohio gathered with signs, slogans, passion, and anger for an abortion-rights rally on Sunday in front of the Statehouse in Columbus.
“The court’s decision has been met with a wave of anger, shock, and disappointment from many and celebration from others. Several who attended the rally on Sunday said they did so because they felt it was important to make sure their voices were heard.
“Ms. Husk’s mother, Shannon Powell, of Coshocton, also attended the rally. Ms. Powell said abortion isn’t just about the life of a baby but also the life and mental health of the mother.
“She wants to live in a community, she said, that will be supportive of her, her daughters, her grandchildren, and everyone else’s personal health care choices. One of her daughters, Ms. Powell said, had a difficult pregnancy and almost died.
“But seeing the amount of people out on Sunday was amazing, several people said. Especially the diversity across race, gender, and age.”
###