350 Rally In Phoenixville For Abortion Rights

PHOENIXVILLE — As the sun set on Reeve’s Park, lawmakers and private citizens revealed stories about their lives before an attentive audience of an estimated 350 men, women and children at a rally for women’s rights.

They spoke of miscarriages, unwanted pregnancies, abortions, and medical emergencies they experienced, with the goal of keeping abortions safe, legal and accessible in Pennsylvania.

There were no visible counter protests at the two-hour rally hosted by Phoenixville residents, Chis Brickhouse and his wife, Tara Wallace.

Brickhouse said he grew up in a pro-life household, and had to go to the rallies as a young boy, but has since changed his views.

Brickhouse said he organized the rally to inform the public of the ramifications of the June 24 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade,returning the abortion issues to the states and stripping American women of the constitutional right to abortion.

“This is a backlash to progress,” Brickhouse said, as the ralliers arrived en masse. “People need to vote pro-choice. The voters need to pay attention to what is happening in Pennsylvania.”

Last week, the state Senate and House passed a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that does not guarantee rights for abortions or public funding for abortions.

Women reveal heart-wrenching past

Two close friends, Kat Richardson, 42, of Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County, and V. Mourar, 38, of North Coventry Township, Chester County, spoke about their experiences as young women growing up in underserved communities.

They said it was necessary to be up front about real life experiences to protect rights for all Americans.

“Everyone needs to vote,” Richardson said. “If we don’t, the right will take our rights away.”

Richardson opened up to a large audience about an experience that she has kept to herself for 25 years.

“I was homeless,” she said. “One night I was sleeping in a park and I was sexually assaulted by two men. A few months later, I found myself pregnant. Just like that it was like being raped all over again.”

Richardson said she had to get parental permission to get an abortion. Her father signed the paperwork. As she left the clinic, she was greeted by people calling her a “murderer.”

The reaction from the pro-lifers screaming made the situation worse. In the end, Richardson said, she is a proud adopted mother who is angry about her rights being taken away.

“Get angry with me,” she said to the crowd. “Complacency and silence is what got us here. Get angry and register to vote.”

Mourar said she got pregnant when she was 16 years old.

“I was in shock,” she said. “I was on birth control. How could this happen? But I had a choice and I chose to have my son. It was my choice.”

Several years later, Mourar said she got pregnant again. This time, Mourar said her choice was to have an abortion, noting she was very busy being a young mother. Next, Mourar said she had several miscarriage before getting pregnant again.

“I had a choice,” she said. “I delivered a healthy baby.”

She called on the spectators to contact the United Nations to express concerns about the violation of human rights.

Pennsylvania lawmakers call for turning Congress blue

Pennsylvania Democratic lawmakers Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, and State Sens. Katie Muth and Carolyn Committa called for people to register and vote Democratic to ensure that women’s rights are protected.

They also asked people living in the 26th district to vote for Paul Friel, a Democrat who is seeking to unseat the longtime lawmaker, Tim Hennessey.

• Paul Friel told a story of when his wife got pregnant there was a tumor on her ovary.

The couple had to make a decision on whether to proceed with the pregnancy or end it.

“The last thing we need is for the government to reach in,” he said. “We have to stop the votes for those who are deciding this.”

They decided to proceed with the pregnancy. Friel said his wife gave birth and a nine-pound tumor was removed. He now has a healthy 23-year-old daughter.

• State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, a Democrat representing portions of Chester and Montgomery counties, said her sister had a miscarriage.

She said her sister got pregnant again and was told there were some complications. The family talked it over and her sister decided to go on with the pregnancy.
“There was a choice for her and her family,” Otten said.
The child ended up spending 18 months in a cardiac intensive care unit, but is healthy now.

• State Sen Katie Muth, a Democrat representing northeastern Chester County and southeastern Berks and Montgomery counties.

“When one person’s freedom is under attack it’s up for grabs for everyone else,” Muth said. “Let’s talk about the economy and abortion. They are not separate. Abortion rights are economic rights. We cannot let the extreme right garbage take over our freedom.”

• State Sen. Carolyn Comitta, a Democrat representing Chester County, said she remembers when the Roe v. Wade’s decision was issued.

“I was in college,” she said. “We were excited.”

She also remembers that in 1971, Pennsylvania passed an equal rights amendment.

“And you remember that in congress they were trying to pass the equal rights amendment for the U.S. and it still hasn’t passed.”

Comitta, a former mayor of West Chester, called on the constituents to elect Democrats in all races. “We are a democracy,” Comitta said. “We must elect a Democratic governor. Our democracy is at stake. Let’s get it done between now and November.”