Church Members "Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights"

Over 800 people showed up to march through the crowded streets of Waikiki on O‘ahu on Saturday, May 14, in support of abortion rights and reproductive justice. Protesters included individuals who are members of Church of the Crossroads, Nu‘uanu Congregational Church, and United Church of Christ Judd Street. All across Hawai‘i and the United States, people took to the streets to protest to stop the U.S. Supreme Court from taking away the right to legal and safe abortion.

This was part of the response to Politico's May 2nd publishing of a copy of a leaked draft opinion written by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., that indicated the Court was ready to overturn women's constitutional right to abortion. Although an official ruling on a pending case is not expected to be handed down until late June of this year, such an unprecedented decision would end 50 years of abortion rights in the United States. As there is no federal law protecting a woman's right to an abortion, striking down the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision would leave abortion laws entirely in the hands of the individual states. This would make abortion inaccessible for many people who don't have the resources to travel to places where abortion is legal.

The color green has become known internationally to symbolize women's rights and autonomy. While abortion is largely a women's issue, other people with uteruses, such as trans men, should not be left out if justice is being sought for all.

The United Church of Christ has supported reproductive justice issues since the 1960’s.

"As a human rights issue, reproductive justice promotes the rights of people to bear children they want to have, to not bear children, to raise the children they do have in safe and healthy environments, and express their sexuality without oppression."