Harvard Square is often jokingly referred to as the epicenter of the “People’s Republic of Cambridge,” and this distinguished political leaning was on full display today as a group of 40 students and community members rallied for abortion rights in front of the Harvard T-stop.
The students were protesting the Stupak amendment to the Health Care reform bill recently passed by the House. This amendment would prevent insurance plans participating in a public, federally-funded option from covering abortions.
Bright pink official Planned Parenthood mingled with homemade signs proclaiming engaging slogans such as “Stupak is Stupid.”
A large sign mysteriously showed a wire dry-cleaner hanger crossed out with a large “x.” Protestors waved actual hangers in the air, and while we were initially confused, the explanation was sobering.
“In the years before Roe v. Wade, a lot of women tried to self-abort using a hanger. Our worry is that by decreasing accessibility to women’s reproductive healthcare, more women are going to be seeking illegal abortions, which are more dangerous,” Adrian Gonzalez ’13 said.
But this is Harvard, so even the protests are a little, well, nerdier. These students paid attention in English class, and their wordsmithing prowess was clear in their slogans.
A sample below:
Alliteration – “Students Stop Stupak”
Rhymes – “Stop Stupak, fight back”
“Banning abortion is healthcare extortion”