The March for Reproductive Freedom
Erin Cropper
Contributing Writer
Students march with signs on Main Street.
Chants for reproductive rights echoed through the streets of downtown Farmington. Mantor Green filled with people holding posters exuding frustrations and passion for reproductive rights. Cheers from a group of people brought together by their goal of being the change in a society creating more and more laws disregarding diversity and equality could be heard all throughout campus.
On Friday, Sept. 16, dozens of UMF students and supporters came together for the “Won’t Go Back Rally” put on by Reese Remington, Zach Laflamme, and Scott Donahue. UMF residents met right outside of Mantor Library, and walked all throughout downtown Farmington with posters, yelling pro-democratic chants led by Laflamme.
“This is such an important issue” said Laflamme “and all my best friends are women so I need to stand up for them, be active for them, and do the best I can as a man because men have it easy in this world and we need to do more and go vote.”
Laflamme is very devoted to taking a stand in activism, and, to people who want to be more proactive in it as well, he said “I think it’s important to use your voice as much as possible because a lot of people think you don’t have a voice in this world and you do…If you shout, if you chant, if you be active in activism, it’s so important to use your voice for good.”
“I think it’s important to use your voice as much as possible because a lot of people think you don’t have a voice in this world and you do…If you shout, if you chant, if you be active in activism, it’s so important to use your voice for good.”
Zach Laflamme, student organizer
With the upcoming election in Maine, the rally not only focused on Abortion Rights but also candidates to support and how important it is to vote. Gov. Janet Mills has been working constantly to keep reproductive rights in place, while popular Republican candidate Paul Lepage has shared that stabilizing these rights in Maine is not much of a concern to him. When he was asked about overturning Roe v. Wade, he simply said “let’s do it.”
At the end of the march, there was an “open-mic” time for students to go up and share their feelings about the current state of reproductive rights and why they’re so important to keep in place. Not only was this student-run, there were also special guests speakers—including a representative from Maine Family Planning and multiple pro-choice Maine candidiates.
Retired Farmington County Communications director and current Maine Senate Candidate Stan Wheeler was also in attendance at the rally, invited by the UMF Democrats.
Students protest on Mantor Green.
“It’s an issue I feel strongly about and support and show my support,” Wheeler said. “People in my generation tend to write off people in your generation (Gen Z) and say ‘Ah, they don’t do anything, they don’t want to know anything, they’re lazy, nobody wants to work.’ Look at this. You got a group out here, and it’s so important to recognize that.”
In response to why it’s so important for both men and women to speak on this topic, Wheeler said “We’re all affected. Yes, I can’t get pregnant, but I know a lot of people who can. And I have two daughters who I raised through the school system here, and women’s health care is an important right for them and for all women.”
Wheeler’s campaign revolves around the statement “Bringing Compassion to Augusta.”
“I pride myself on being able to look at all sides of an issue and work towards a compromise and a solution and, for this, there is no compromise,” he said.
