Almost three hundred people braved the rain in Brisbane on October 9 to rally against the Cairns abortion trial which is scheduled to start next Tuesday.
Protesters heard from Susan Shaw from the Pro-Choice Action Collective who outlined the background to the Cairns case and the campaign that has called for the charges to be dropped.
Cait Calcutt from Children by Choice spoke about the history of the anti-abortion laws in Queensland.
The Queensland Secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), Margaret Lee told the rally to much applause about the motion that was passed unanimously at the recent NTEU National Council meeting condemning the Cairns abortion trial.
Larissa Waters from the Queensland Greens and Senator-elect for Queensland spoke about the overwhelming public support that exists for a woman’s right to choose abortion.
Messsages of support were read to the rally from the Women’s Abortion Action Campaign (Sydney), Radical Women (Melbourne) and the Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights.
Pro-Choice Action Collective activist, Kathy Newnam said that the rally marked the beginning of the next stage of the campaign. She told the rally “we cannot leave the couple alone to their fate. We cannot stand for a rotten precedent to be set on these laws. And we cannot let this happen ever again. The laws must be repealed immediately.”
The protest marched through the city despite the rain – stopping en route for one minute silence to remember the women who die every year around the world because they cannot access safe abortion. Newnam told the rally “Throughout the third world, because of the devastating legacy of the history of colonialism and imperialist domination, 78 000 women die every year because they cannot access safe abortion. We say no more. Women have the right to control their own bodies. This is a movement that needs everyone who supports justice.”
Many people joined in the protest as it marched through the city.
Rallies were also held in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin and Perth. A protest vigil will take place in Cairns outside the District Court from Monday October 11 and will continue throughout the trial from 8am-6pm each day.
A contingent of pro-choice activists from around the country will attend the Cairns trial.
The Pro-Choice Action Collective will hold a speak-out protest on Friday October 15 at 5pm in Brisbane Square (outside Casino) to hear reports from activists who will attend the Cairns abortion trial. The Pro-Choice Action Collective will also hold a public meeting to discuss the next steps in the campaign – on Monday October 18, 6:30pm at the TLC Building (2nd floor), 16 Peel St, South Brisbane.
For more information, contact the Pro-Choice Action Collective – 0400 720 757 (Kathy)
See photos of the rally: www.prochoiceactionqld.org