By Madhu Mayer
As the abortion debate further divides the country following the Supreme Court’s decision rendered on June 24, 2022, to overturn Roe v. Wade, Will County was in the spotlight when U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris recently made a stop in Plainfield.
The Vice President was at the C.W. Avery Family YMCA in Plainfield where she met with invited area leaders and watched President Joe Biden address the nation following the high court’s decision that now leaves it up to states to decide the fate of abortion. The V.P. was joined by Democrats Illinois State Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, who is running for re-election for the 14th Congressional District.
Though she was not in the YMCA when the VP spoke, Margie Gallagher of Plainfield said she is glad the vice president is addressing the rights of women.
“At least in Illinois, women don’t have to worry about having access to abortion,” she said. “I worry about women in other parts of the country where laws are really stringent and will tighten even more because of the Supreme Court decision.”
To the contrary, Bethany DiGordano of Joliet said she was elated when the Supreme Court rendered its long-awaited decision ending the federal protection for abortion rights.
“I am glad they are leaving this up to states,” she said. “I do support abortion in cases of rape or incest, but it should not be a form of birth control. There is a life of a child involved and at least their voices are being heard.”
Laura Mendoza of Shorewood offered a different perspective.
“I am now worried if they are going to take another look at same sex and interracial marriages and freedom to use contraception, said Mendoza. “Who would have ever thought they would overturn Roe v. Wade. This just put women back in the dark ages, especially those who are minorities. There are disparities in healthcare for women who are African-American and Hispanics.”
Jim Caliendo of Bolingbrook wonders if the abortion debate will take center stage in the midterm election.
“This might energize the younger voters,” he speculated. “I was talking to my friends this weekend and many of us are really worried about the price of gasoline and inflation. But again, we are men, so we see the issue of abortion differently. But for many women, like my wife and daughters, they believe it is their right to choose when it comes to abortion, and they are going to support candidates who allow them to have control over their bodies.”
mmayer@thetimesweekly.com
