Democrats planning rallies in Harrison, Arnold in response to overturning Roe v. Wade

Motivated by the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Democrats will be rallying in Harrison and Arnold over the next two days.

• A picnic-style family event is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Wake Robin pavilion in Harrison Hills Park.

• A “Vote for Our Rights” rally is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Arnold Fireman Park on Riverside Drive near 18th Street.

Those expected to attend the Harrison event include state Sen. Lindsey Williams; Tracy Baton, director of Women’s March Pittsburgh; Mandy Steele, a Democratic candidate for the state House 33rd District; and Democratic congressional candidate Chris Deluzio.

Autumn Monaghan of Harrison is a board member of Women’s March Pittsburgh and chair of the Harrison Democratic Committee. She will speak at the Arnold rally. Monaghan said organizers will be encouraging people to support and vote for candidates who support abortion rights and the right to choose.

“I’ve been doing this work in this area in the Upper Allegheny Valley for a long time,” Monaghan said. “I’ve never had this many people that have reached out to me with just questions about what can we do, how can we help, what do we do to stop all these things from happening.”

The Supreme Court’s June 24 decision stripping away constitutional protections for abortion has energized people, she said.

“It’s terrifying for people. People are really starting to wake up and pay attention to these issues,” Monaghan said. “People are terrified for lots of different reasons — same-sex marriage, contraception. They’re afraid because it feels there’s no such thing as settled law anymore. If you can overturn Roe v. Wade, overturn settled law, that’s not what that is anymore.”

The Harrison gathering

The Harrison event is pegged as family friendly to attract all ages to the message, she said.

Organizers will grill hot dogs, and those attending are asked to bring a potluck dish to share. There will be face painting, games and a story time.

Monaghan said the PA Dems will be on hand to share with people how to help organize their efforts through phone banks, postcards and canvassing. For people who are uncomfortable going out into the community, there are lessons on how to connect with potential voters on Zoom.

“My phone hasn’t stopped ringing since that day,” Monaghan said. “They message me on Facebook; they are finding me everywhere asking how to help.

“It’s about so much more than abortion. Nothing is settled law. People never thought that we would be here again, and women are just not OK with this.”

In an effort to rebuild the area’s Democratic stronghold, Monaghan said the Highlands Dems plan to host a rally every month. The group is a joint effort of voters in Harrison, Brackenridge and Tarentum.

Steele, who is running for the state House 33rd District seat, said the message that “abortion is health care” couldn’t be more simple or significant.

“Lawmakers have no place in our decisions about our own bodies,” Steele said. “It is clear to me that the freedom to decide if and when to have children is fundamental to ensuring that women are equal participants in our society.”

The Arnold event

In addition to Monaghan, Michelle McFall, Westmoreland County Democratic chair, will speak in Arnold, said Melissa Charlton, a member of the Arnold Democratic Committee.

“The rally will focus on legislative opportunities to energize, organize and engage ahead of Pennsylvania’s midterms,” Charlton said. “We’ll talk about our rights as women that we don’t have anymore.”

Charlton called the court’s ruling “horrible.”

“My animals have more rights than I do right now,” she said. “What about the girls coming up? They don’t have anything, either. It’s a shame this is being stripped from us after 50 years.”

Charlton said they’ll want to register people to vote. Although Arnold leans Democrat, she said only 17% of city residents are registered.

“We figure if we do some of these rallies, hopefully, we can get people to support and do what’s right,” she said. “I’m hoping a lot of people will sign up to register and do something to help the state be ‘blue’ (controlled by Democrats) and stop the craziness going on.”