Women's March for abortion rights By Amelia kaiser

Title image: Marchers for the 5th annual Women's March hold a sign showing solidarity with Planned Parenthood while walking through the streets of downtown San Diego on Oct. 2.

The wire coat hanger is a symbolic reminder of the dangers of banning abortion. Prior to Roe v. Wade’s protection of legal abortions, people desperately sought out dangerous procedures that were performed with hangers, leading to complications and sometimes death.

Activists from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement lead the marching crowd down N. Harbor Drive, with leadership from the Women’s March following closely behind.

Toni Atkins, president pro tempore of the California State Senate, is among those who gave speeches at the march. Atkins worked as a women’s clinic director in the 1980s before entering public service.

“We march today because we will not go back,” Atkins said. “We have been here before, and we did not intend to be here today having to do this again but by God, we will. We will.”

Sheila Jackson rallies fellow marchers with chants from her megaphone. “I’ve been fighting to make my voice heard my entire life,” Jackson said. “I’m not taking that anymore.”

Ellen Kippel (right) has been fighting for abortion rights since 1973. “It’s so sad that women don’t have a right to their own choice. You don’t have to be pro-abortion to be pro-choice,” Kippel said.

Dressed in a handmaid’s uniform from Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Patricia Law marches with the crowd. In the novel, women are forced to conceive and carry children.

“Our rights as women are constantly being assailed,” Law said.

“Every child should be wanted.”

Patrick Malkoun and Madison Ceballos cool off in the fountain at Waterfront Park after marching.

“There’s major neglect for Black trans women’s lives at the women’s march. The term feminism has been co-opted by white cigendered women, especially heterosexual women,” Malkoun said. “Today we remember that all Black lives matter continuously. Black trans lives matter.”

“Patriarchy is not going to win. Not gonna win today, not gonna win tomorrow,” Ceballos said.

Jeremy Espinoza and Kaity Gallagher hit the pavement to secure their 5-month-old daughter’s access to legal and safe abortion. “We are marching for our daughter and her rights,” Espinoza said.

Lisette Canchon (center) holds a sign with artist and author Molly Crabapple’s art on it. “I’ve had an abortion and can’t believe my siblings, my children wouldn’t be able to,” Canchon said.

MiraCosta College’s Women’s Club is represented by Parmis Sanaei, club vice president. “I’m here to fight for our choice as women and against what’s been happening in Texas with the recent legislation,” Sanaei said.

MCC Women’s Club focuses on outreach and advocacy for women’s issues.

“[An abortion] is nobody’s business besides the woman herself,” Sanaei said.

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Amelia Kaiser