Alex Franzino, a Hopewell Valley Central High School senior, will hold a pro-choice rally at Hinds Plaza in Princeton from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 12, 2019. The rally will feature speakers including Mayor Liz Lempert of Princeton and local students from all over Mercer County.
Rallies like this will be held across the United States this weekend to urge the Supreme Court and other federal and state courts to uphold the Roe v. Wade decision and a person’s right to choose. This event is part of a social justice movement known as “Dare Defend Our Rights,” which is a play on Alabama’s state motto, “We Dare Defend Our Rights”.
For Franzino, this event is all about showing the government that they have no right to regulate women’s bodies.
“There is nothing in the constitution or law in general that regulates a man’s body, so there should not be any laws telling a women, or anyone with a uterus, what they can or can not do with their body,” said Franzino.
Even though New Jersey does not put restrictions on women’s access to abortions, Franzino says she hopes that her rally will support people across the country who face this threat. She also hopes that this rally will show young people the impact of their voices.
“We are the future of America, so we need to have a say in what that future looks like,” she urged. “In the past, regardless of the issue, our government has let us down. So, it is up to us to get things done. We all have something we believe in. Don’t be silent. Organize, mobilize, and, when you are old enough, VOTE. Every person that participates makes a difference for creating lasting change.”
Franzino encourages anyone interested to make posters and bring them to the rally. For more information, Franzino can be reached on Instagram at @daredefendourrights_mc and Facebook at Dare Defend Our Rights Mercer County.
Questions may be directed to [email protected] or to the chapter’s email [email protected].
