Josh Shapiro Hosted Rally to Defend Abortion Rights in Philadelphia - Shapiro For Governor
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June 27, 2022Press Releases

Josh Shapiro Hosted Rally to Defend Abortion Rights in Philadelphia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 27, 2022

Contact:

SPA Press, Press@joshshapiro.org

ICYMI: Josh Shapiro Hosted Rally to Defend Abortion Rights in Philadelphia

Over 1,500 people gathered to rally with Attorney General Shapiro in Philadelphia to defend abortion rights.

PENNSYLVANIA This weekend, in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Attorney General Josh Shapiro hosted a massive rally in Philadelphia to send a clear message: he will defend reproductive rights and keep abortion legal in Pennsylvania. Only 24 hours after the decision, 1,500 Pennsylvanians joined Josh and local, state, and federal leaders to stand up for abortion rights.  

The court’s decision has made one thing clear: a woman’s right to choose in Pennsylvania will now entirely depend on who our next Governor is. While Doug Mastriano wants to ban abortion with no exceptions and jail doctors, Josh Shapiro will always defend Pennsylvanians’ freedoms, safeguard reproductive rights, and keep abortion legal in Pennsylvania

See below for some of what Philadelphians have been seeing and reading about Saturday’s rally and the stakes of this Governor’s race.

Al Día News: Shapiro backs women’s choice, emphasizes voting in November at Philly abortion rights rally

It was sentiment of shock, anger and frustration shared by all those present in front of the National Constitution Center on Saturday, June 25, as Pennsylvania Attorney General and Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro threw a rally in support of abortion rights now at-risk nationwide. The event featured a long list of speakers, all of whom are leading women figures in politics and abortion advocacy in the state and city.

In Pennsylvania, whether or not abortion rights stay in place comes down to November’s election.

Shapiro made it clear early in his speech that he would protect women’s rights to abortions in Pennsylvania. […]

It’s why Perez extended Shapiro’s message of voting to not only her daughter, but also Black and Brown communities across Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

“When things like this happen, it’s a shock, but it’s really not. As a Latina in Philly, it’s so important for our Brown and Black communities to really get up and vote, and we really have to break out these stigmas that people have around voting,” she said. “Every vote affects what happens next.”

WHYY: Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro rallies for abortion rights in Philly, as Pa. governor’s race stakes heighten

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the Democratic nominee for Pa. governor, rallied in defense of abortion rights with hundreds of others at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center on Saturday.

After the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe vs. Wade, abortion is still legal in Pennsylvania. But all eyes are on the governor’s race this November, which may determine the fate of reproductive rights in the state.

The GOP-controlled legislature has repeatedly tried to restrict abortions — and it’s up to the governor to decide whether those bills pass.

Shapiro on Saturday maintained his pledge to protect reproductive rights. […]

When it comes to abortion, Shapiro has made sure to differentiate himself from Mastriano, whom he has called “a radical extremist.”

“You’ve heard him talk a good game about freedom. Well, I say this here in the birthplace of our democracy, it’s not freedom when he tells you what medicines you’re allowed to take. That’s not freedom,” said Shapiro. “It’s not freedom when he tells you how and when and under what terms, you’re allowed to start a family. That’s not freedom.”

WFMZ: Gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro holds ‘rally to defend abortion rights’ in Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro is making his opinion on abortion laws clear, and says he will protect abortion in the state if he is elected governor in November.

“What’s clear is Roe is gone,” Shapiro said. “There are no more federal protections.”

“I feel your frustration,” Shapiro told the audience outside the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia on Saturday. There, he and local, state and federal leaders held a rally in an effort to keep abortion legal in Pennsylvania.

Shapiro called the overturn of Roe v. Wade “shameful.” […]

“I will protect providers in Pennsylvania, I will protect patients in Pennsylvania, I will protect women in Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said.

“This is reality: There is going to be a bill on the desk of the next governor to ban abortion,” Shapiro said. “My opponent will sign it. He said it’s his top priority. I will veto it.”

CBS 3 Philadelphia: Hundreds Rally For Abortion Rights In Philadelphia With Democratic Gov. Nominee Josh Shapiro, Planned Parenthood

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has thrust Pennsylvania’s governor’s race into the national spotlight. The two men running, Josh Shapiro and Doug Mastriano, are on completely different sides of the debate. […]

“This is nothing short of a national healthcare crisis,” Dayle Steinberg, the CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania, said.

“We are here to move forward as a country, not to go backwards and I think it’s just basic human rights at this point that are under attack by those in highest power,” Jessalyn Rabito, an abortion rights advocate, said. […]

“You wouldn’t be telling men what they can and cannot do with their bodies,” Debbie Stewart, an abortion rights advocate, said. “We have every right in the world to make our own decisions.”

FOX 29 Philadelphia: Roe v. Wade protests: Hundreds rally to defend abortion rights across Philadelphia

Major protests broke out in Philadelphia Saturday, a day after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in a landmark ruling.

Signs in hand, hundreds chanted as they gathered with the National Constitution Center as their backdrop. One large banner reading, “Keep Abortion Safe, Legal & Accessible.”

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro hosted the rally “to defend Pennsylvanians’ freedom, safeguard reproductive rights and keep abortion legal in Pennsylvania.” The Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania Governor was joined by several local, state and federal leaders.

“I will not let our daughters grow up in a world where they have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers had in Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said in reaction to the ruling.

6ABC: Pennsylvania Attorney General holds rally in Philadelphia to ‘protect abortion rights’

Protestors carried signs like “Get your laws off my body” and “Women will die” as they cheered on speakers, many of whom were Democratic politicians.

“My granddaughter is not going to have the same freedom I had and that my daughter had, and it’s so upsetting to me,” said Diana Becerra from Roxborough.

The Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade Friday, which had granted birth-givers the right to abortion since its passing in 1973.

“It gutted me. I am scared for my children. I’m scared for my children’s children,” said Ronna Dewey, who works with the mom activist group Red, Wine, and Blue.

The crowd heard from local, state, and federal representatives, including Joanna McClinton, a democrat representing the 191st house district in Pennsylvania.

“In the midst of a very dark Friday, I’m thrilled to know there is a glimmer of hope,” she said as she stumped for Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s current attorney general. He is running on the Democratic ticket for governor.

“I trust the women of Pennsylvania to make decisions over their own bodies,” Shapiro told the crowd.

Similar abortion rights events were planned in more than 200 cities.

“I hope we’re able to do this for like a week and keep going, because it’s going to keep being an issue people shouldn’t forget about it,” said Deirdre French of Bristol, Pa.

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