Anti-abortion zealots take to the Quad
A group of anti-abortion protesters took to the Quad on Feb. 29 and March 1, displaying graphic images as an attempt to shame and pull back the curtain of the supposed atrocities practiced by those who believe in a woman’s right to choose.
The UC Davis Women’s Resources and Research Center (WRRC) led a coordinated response in the face of these demonstrations to offer a different perspective. Volunteers from the WRRC, Women’s Health Specialists and Health Education and Promotions tabled at the Memorial Union to provide a “full spectrum of reproductive health resources and education.” These advocates displayed signs of their own to warn students of the demonstrators and offered several umbrella escorts for those who needed to walk past the protesters but felt the graphic images may be triggering to them.
The Editorial Board commends the WRRC for its swift action taken against these potentially harmful and triggering demonstrations and for increasing the services provided to the UC Davis community during the protests.
According to its website, the WRRC gives UC Davis students a place to learn about and utilize resources that focus on gender equality and social justice. It has a wealth of information on a variety of subjects and is an invaluable part of the amenities offered by the university.
This week’s incident draws many parallels with what is happening on the national stage against Planned Parenthood, an organization that supplies information, resources and reproductive and health services. Planned Parenthood has been criticized for providing abortions to those who seek help. Though no government funding goes toward abortion, supporting Planned Parenthood has become a wedge issue.
The demonstrators on campus and other supporters perpetuate the false belief that these sort of organizations primarily perform abortions when in reality it is only a small fraction of the services provided. Whether one has pro-life or pro-choice beliefs, it is crucial to know that abortions are not the sole service offered by women’s health clinics, just like women’s resource centers do not exclusively offer information about where to go for them. Cutting funding to either type of organization will only harm the remaining services that directly benefit many members of society.
The Editorial Board encourages all UC Davis students to utilize the resources offered by the WRRC. Resources can be found at North Hall 113 on Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and at the Student Community Center 1413 on Monday and Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. and Friday from 1 to 2 p.m.
