by Elizabeth Ashford
Staff Writer
The March for Women’s Lives, a national movement pushing for
better healthcare for women of all races, will take place in April
in Washington D.C. and Appalachian State University members of NARAL
Pro-Choice plan to help send interested students.
“Unfortunately in this country, class division, as far
as socioeconomic status, is divided up racially,” NARAL Pro-Choice
President Sara E. Castellano said. “So essentially when we
set limitations on abortion or any kind of family planning, certain
insurances won’t cover abortion or birth control or things
like that,” Castellano said.
“Then that means that lower socioeconomic status people
won’t have access to it, and that unfortunately is the minority
races,” Castellano said.
NARAL Pro-Choice Vice President Sara R. Smith said she feels minority
representation at the march is crucial.
“It’s important for minorities to go to this because
often times minorities are underrepresented,” Smith said.
“Those working on the March for Women’s Lives are
making sure that issues like equal access to proper health care
and other reproductive services and equality in general is represented
at this march,” Smith said.
Castellano said that the speeches given during the march will cover
many different topics.
“I think choice is kind of the thing that’s brought
pretty much everyone together, but it’s focused on health
care access as far as insurance goes, family planning as far as
access to birth control and prenatal testing,” Castellano
said.
Castellano said that the march was not just about families in the
United States either.
“A lot of the U.S. policies have affected women globally…
and it’s not just about women, it’s about family,”
Castellano said.
Castellano said that they try to focus on health care in general
since abortion is such a touchy topic.
“I think a lot of people don’t really understand
that being pro-choice doesn’t mean that we necessarily approve
of abortion and that we want everyone to have an abortion,”
Castellano said. “It doesn’t say that I agree with abortion.
It says who I think should make the decision about abortion. I don’t
think a government should make that decision; a woman should.”
“This march is not just about health and reproductive
rights,” Appalachian’s National Organization for Women
(NOW) Vice President Briana L. Egan said. “This is about Title
IX, and individuals tend to not know that Title IX is about women
and education and this is a benefit for all women including minorities,”
Egan said.
NARAL Pro-Choice will hold a fundraiser for the event Friday. Several
local bands with female lead singers will perform at Black Cat Burrito
beginning at 10 p.m.
“This will be a fundraiser to help students who can’t
pay their way get to the march,” Castellano said.
The state coalition of NARAL Pro-Choice will come to Appalachian
April 2 at Duck Pond Field from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Castellano said.
“There will be some speakers, music and fun stuff to
do in general. They are coming to all of the state campuses that
are organizing delegations and the purpose is to raise awareness
of the issues and get people excited about going,” Castellano
said.
The Washington, D.C. march will take place April 25 and buses from
Appalachian will leave April 23 and 24. Costs for the trip will
vary depending on when people leave for the march, Castellano said.
Those interested can contact Castellano at sc50923@appstate.edu.
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