By Brandon T. Bisceglia
Protesters brandish signs during a rally at Milford City Hall on June 26 to protest the US Supreme Court’s decision overturning the national right to abortion. Photo by Brandon T. Bisceglia.
Protesters rallied in front of Milford City Hall on June 26 to vent their anger over the US Supreme Court’s decision two days earlier to overturn 50 years of court precedent on abortion rights.
The heat of the afternoon sun was no match for the heat of protesters’ passion as they brandished signs, listened to the entreaties of state and local officials and vowed not to back down in the face of what is likely to be a rapidly shifting landscape of civil and individual rights.
The event was a veritable who’s who of Connecticut Democratic politics, including Gov. Ned Lamont, US Sen. Richard Blumenthal and US Rep. Rosa DeLauro, whose third district includes Milford and Orange.
“This was not about protecting life. It’s about stripping power, control, and stripping dignity and respect for women,” DeLauro told the crowd. “Make no mistake. Women will die because of this ruling.”
Blumenthal warned that, should Republicans control the White House and both houses of Congress, they could move to enact restrictions nationwide.
A number of the speakers took aim at the makeup of the court, with Blumenthal calling the justices who voted in favor of overturning Roe as a “bunch of politicians masquerading as judges.”
All of the speakers took turns reminding the audience to vote for people who support abortion rights in the November elections. At times the event took on the tone of a campaign rally.
“We put in place a law that says that if Roe v. Wade is not the law of the country it’s going to stay the law of Connecticut,” Lamont told the crowd. “But you can only count on that as long as Ned Lamont and Susan Bysiewicz are your governor and lieutenant governor,” he said, adding a jab at Republican opponent Bob Stefanowski, who is running for governor against Lamont in a reprise of their 2018 showdown. Stefanowski, Lamont said, had taken a pass during his previous campaign on a question about what would happen if Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was the deciding vote to overturn abortion rights.
“You do not take a pass women’s rights. You do not take a pass on human rights,” Lamont said to cheers.
Many of the officials who participated are up for reelection, including Lamont, Blumenthal and DeLauro.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont speaks during a rally at Milford City Hall on JUne 26 to protest the US Supreme Court’s decision overtunring the national right to abortion. Photo by Brandon T. Bisceglia.
State Rep. Mary Welander, whose district includes parts of Orange, spoke of the shock she felt as she heard the news of the court’s decision, wondering how to tell her daughters that they did not have the same rights they had the day before.
While access to abortion is unlikely to change much in Connecticut, where state law has long enshrined the principles in Roe, Welander pointed out that even in this solidly blue state there exist people who, if given the chance, would roll back many of those rights.
“Some of the things that I have heard on the Connecticut state floor would turn your stomach,” she said. “Those views that we see elsewhere that we think we don’t have to worry about in Connecticut – they are here, and they are holding office.”
Milford alderman Michelle Parente noted how deeply rooted patriarchal ideas remain even in local politics. “I’m an alderwoman – actually, by charter it’s a man,” she pointed out, adding that she was pushing to get the term changed.
“Look around. The men who are here – and we are so glad you are here with us – but guess what? We are literally unequal to you right now. So let that sink in today.”