More than 100 Rally in the Rain in Charleston, West Virginia!

Last Thursday, despite wind, rain and cold temperatures, over 100 family planning supporters attended the Rally For Women’s Lives to stand with Planned Parenthood and up for access to family planning, preventive care and women’s health care.  Amid a sea of umbrellas and signs with such sayings as “Don’t take away my breast exams” and “I [heart] the Women’s Health Center” and clad in ponchos , hats and rubber boots, activists from around the state gathered in front of the Robert C. Byrd Federal Building in downtown Charleston to raise awareness about this critical issue.

The rally was organized by Planned Parenthood Health Systems, WV FREE, the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, ACLU of West Virginia, the National Association of Social Workers WV Chapter and West Virginia Citizen Action Group in response to the U.S. House of Representatives vote on February 18th to eliminate the Title X family planning program and to bar Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funding for lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, and STI testing and treatment. 

Activists connected with old friends, met new ones, shared stories of how essential community providers including Planned Parenthood, the Women’s Health Center and county health departments had cared for them over the years, listened to music and waved to the often-honking cars that passed by on Virginia Street.   They got wet–soaking wet, really–but the rain didn’t dampen their spirits.  Throughout the rally, chants including “Hey, Senators, hear our call!  Women’s right’s protect us all”  and “What do we want?  Birth Control!  When do we want it?  Forever!” could be heard up and down the block.  In between all of the fun and camaraderie, activists filled out postcards to their senators and some even called their offices, asking them protect Title X, Planned Parenthood and the more than 5 million Americans who receive health care services through Title X funded clinics and Planned Parenthood health centers.

Speakers included Margaret Chapman Pomponio of WV FREE, Frank Crabtree of the ACLU of West Virginia, Sharon Lewis of the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, the Reverend Jim Lewis and yours truly here at Planned Parenthood Health Systems. 

Mr. Jeremy Brannon, a supporter of family planning and Planned Parenthood, produced this awesome video that captures the excitement and energy of the event.  Check  it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ysf0qGMR7g&feature=player_embedded.

Thanks so much to ALL of the volunteers who made this rally happen.  There were many without whom this event would not have happened.  A special thanks goes out to DL host, Jim Kerrigan, for his help spreading the word and for setting up and tearing down in the pouring rain, and to Mike Pushkin for his help making the sound system function without a hitch!

If you’d like to learn more or want to get involved, please email me at kira.miskimmin@pphsinc.org.  We can always use more help, and I promise you, your time will be well spent!