Last week our own Donna Bent, RN, and Anne St. Paul, RN, joined thousands gathered to rally in Washington, D.C. as the Supreme Court heard Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius.
These cases could jeopardize access to affordable birth control for millions of women. It could also set a dangerous precedent that will spark more Arizona-style discrimination bills and businesses denying employees with services they are entitled, all based on the business owners’ beliefs.
Here’s what St. Paul, a nurse at Jackson North, had to say about the experience:
“The trip was a complete mind blowing experience for me. I didn’t know up until now how much struggle, inequality and bias women in this modern age still had to face. This experience made me realized how truly ignorant I was of the world around me. Here we are in some states allowing same-sex marriage, legalizing marijuana and by the same token here I’m standing in the crowd in front of the Supreme Court protesting on contraception, which is and should forever remain an issue decide by the woman herself.
Hundreds gathered in front of the Supreme Court, in the snow, chanting, fighting back for their rights to take control over their life and refusing to let a company who knows nothing about their life circumstances and cares nothing for them call the shots — forever affecting their lives, their health, their families and well being.
I was more than happy and proud to stand by these women joining my voice to theirs as we became one strong voice, chanting, protesting, fighting back for women to have the right to decide for themselves safely and openly about their contraception options.”