Planned Parenthood Rallies for Hillary Clinton
On Monday, September 26 at 4:45 p.m., Planned Parenthood activists lit up Hempstead Turnpike. Bright pink t-shirts and signs expressing their support for Planned Parenthood and Hillary Clinton rallied through the street. Their shouts echoing, onlookers applauding their cause or chanting opposing views back.
The first presidential debate, held at Hofstra University between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump spurred various protests and rallies throughout the day. Planned Parenthood of Nassau County Action Fund had been planning their rally on debate day for a few weeks now. Shayne Larkin, Public Affairs Coordinator at Planned Parenthood Nassau County Action Fund helped make arrangements for the activists. They marched down Hempstead Turnpike to Hagedorn Hall, known as the ‘Free Speech Zone,’ where other organizations protested.
Not everyone supported this rally. Nathaniel Aron, junior at Hofstra University and president of College Republicans club had heard about the rally through the College Feminist Collective club at Hofstra, and was not planning on participating. Although he believes everyone is entitled to their opinion, he did not think the rally would be productive. “I don’t stand with Planned Parenthood, I feel like there are better forms of healthcare.”
The College Republicans club was not planning a collective protest. According to Nathaniel, most students involved in the club were planning on attending Issue Alley, an event held on campus to discuss the issues students felt were important. They were also doing interviews for news channels.
Hofstra students were not the only ones getting involved in the debate and protests. People of all ages fled to join rallies or stand behind Hagedorn Hall and participate in the free speech rally. Before Planned Parenthood took the stage, protesters in support of Gary Johnson and Jill Stein held their ground and expressed their dissatisfaction with the Republican and Democrat nominees.
Chaim Turner, a student at Nassau Community College discussed his animosity toward Hillary Clinton and Planned Parenthood as a whole. Turner, who came to support Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson, and self-proclaimed Conservative is passionate about his pro-life beliefs, saying abortion is a “necessary evil.”
But those that disagree with Planned Parenthood did not prevent the passionate activists from continuing to rally. At about 6 p.m., Planned Parenthood took the stage and began their speak out.
Various women took the podium and declared their support for Hillary Clinton, saying “Hillary Clinton has been a consistent champion for healthcare, the rights of women, and continued access to safe and legal abortion.”
Andrea Smith, a patient of Planned Parenthood for the last six years took the mic and told us her history with Planned Parenthood. After finding herself out of work and without health insurance, Planned Parenthood was there to help her, as they do with millions of people worldwide.
“Hillary will make sure that every person has the right to their own reproductive lives.” – Kat Smith
Kat Smith, sophomore at Hofstra University and Planned Parenthood volunteer, took the stage next. “Hillary will work with us to implement the policy and changes we want to be made, because she believes in the progress of this country.”
Smith went on to tell her own story about how she feels vulnerable under a president like Donald Trump, as a woman and a member of the LGBT community. “He will actively work to take them away from us,” Kat said in regard to reproductive rights.
“We are the forefront of many social justice movements, we are the movement for reproductive freedom.” Kat urged fellow young people to go out and vote for Hillary Clinton this November, “We have the power to make the changes we want to make, and one of the ways to make these changes is by electing Hillary Clinton as our next president of these United States.”
And with that, the crowd continued cheering and rallying. Their bright pink signs raised high above their heads as they anticipated the first presidential debate, held here at Hofstra University. Pink truly was in the air this Monday evening.
