Women’s Rights Rally draws crowd Saturday in Steamboat | SteamboatToday.com
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Women’s Rights Rally draws crowd Saturday in Steamboat

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Katy Pickens
  

A few dozen high school students encouraged cars to beep to support reproductive rights during a Women's Rights Rally on the Routt County Courthouse lawn on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022.
Katy Pickens/Steamboat Pilot & Today

A crowd was gathered near the side of Lincoln Avenue on the Routt County Courthouse lawn from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6. The group, many of whom were teens from Steamboat Springs High School, held colorful, homemade signs bearing slogans such as “we are not ovaryacting” and “my body, my choice.”

Many cars honked excitedly as they drove past the protestors, while upbeat music blared and more attendees joined the roadside crowd.

The Women’s Rights Rally, organized by SSHS senior Olivia Hale, was aiming to catch people’s attention, make them think about reproductive rights and consider the recent decision by the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

Hale, president of Students for Social Justice at SSHS, explained that after the decision she had one feeling: “I wish I could do more.”

This prompted her to organize a rally in conjunction with the Routt County Democrats to promote reproductive rights and start a conversation about the impact Roe’s overturn will have on the younger generation.

The protest drew a crowd of roughly 30 by 2:30 p.m., in addition to a tent for Advocates of Routt County and a voter registration tent by Routt County Democrats.

Graham Hackett, social change program manager for Advocates of Routt County, explained that Hale is “poised to become Advocate’s new intern.”

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“Advocates is proud to join in youth efforts to advance women’s rights,” Hackett said.

Hale said she was really looking forward to helping the nonprofit.

“You hear about issues in the news, see how it relates to your town and it makes you think ‘what can you do to help?’” she said. 

While the majority of attendees at the rally were in favor of the right to abortion, one protestor stood a bit further down the sidewalk to promote a different point of view.

Susie Lee held a sign with a simple slogan in rainbow letters: “Respect Life.”

“I feel strongly about the abortion issue, and I felt it was important for me to be here,” Lee said.

Hale had previously told the Pilot & Today that she hoped the rally would be a place where people could have dialogue.

“Overall, I am excited,” Hale said, both about the protest and her future work at Advocates.

To reach Katy Pickens, call 970-871-4208 or email her at kpickens@SteamboatPilot.com

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