Photo credit: Jo Freeman
Black Women Take Action took to the streets in front of the Supreme Court on May 25, 2022.
Its primary focus is on Voting Rights. BWTA wants Congress to pass H.R. 1, which would expand voting rights and change campaign finance laws. The House passed the bill. The Senate blocked it from being voted on with a filibuster.
BWTA adds other issues it deems relevant as they become public. Right now, that’s abortion, or Reproductive Justice.
At least one speaker called for Gun Control, in light of the mass school shooting in Texas the day before.
First St. from Constitution to Independence Ave. has been blocked to traffic since abortion demonstrations multiplied in early May. The Jersey barriers will probably stay up until the Supreme Court releases its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization which was argued on December 1, 2021.
On May 2, a draft opinion written by Justice Alito was leaked. If issued as written, it would overturn Roe v. Wade and allow each state to regulate abortion as it sees fit. Since then, a variety of different groups have demonstrated in front of the Supreme Court and elsewhere. National demonstrations took place all over the country on May 14. Multiple barriers make it impossible to demonstrate on the sidewalk in front of the Court. Instead, people have replaced traffic on First Street.
Jo Freeman is a feminist scholar and author.
Copyright ©2022 Jo Freeman.
