Staff report

Saturday afternoon, July 9, IDEA of Hastings held a march for women’s reproductive rights. The march gathered at St. Philips Church on the corner 6th Street West and Vermillion Street and went from there down Eddy to 2nd Street to the Rotary Pavilion at Levee Park. At the Rotary Pavilion, they held a brief presentation discussing the overturning of Roe vs Wade and the impact it will have on women all over the US.

The following statement was sent to The Journal on the march: “The march was to bring attention to our reproductive rights. We marched in protest of the reversal of Roe v Wade. The erosion of reproductive rights and the implications that will follow with marriage equality, contraception access and many more fundamental rights that are now at risk. IDEA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to challenging systemic barriers, injustice, discrimination, bias, inequality and outright hate that is found today towards BIPoC and LGBTQ+ members. We work to bring awareness, educate, advocate, and bring change to our community. This is an attack on reproductive rights and on our community. We will not stand by silently allowing it to happen.”

Around 30 people took part in the march for women’s reproductive rights and the presentation at the Rotary Pavilion on Saturday. Here, the group prepares to move from Levee Park to City Hall. Photo by Bruce Karnick