SALEM — Several hundred people, mostly women, gathered on the steps of the state Capitol for three hours April 28 as part of a national grassroots movement called United Against the War on Women.
Similar rallies were sponsored in 46 states across the country.
The rallies were held as a show of strength against recent threats to women’s rights on issues ranging from reproductive to economic and human rights. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 944 measures related to reproductive health have been introduced in 45 state legislatures so far this year.
“Understand, you have the power to return equity, fairness, and balance to this government,” said Tom Chamberlain, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, and one of only two men invited to speak at the rally.
Chamberlain said women, minorities, workers, and unions are under a two-pronged attack by the 1 percenters. One is to “pick our pockets” to further enrich themselves, and the other is to remove all political forces that are in their way.
“Make no mistake about it, there is a war on women,” Chamberlain said. “Don’t believe what comes out of the lips of the speaker of the House in Washington, D.C. There is a war, and we’re seeing pitched battles in state after state after state. This election is a pivotal battle in that war — a war that will decide the future of this country and, I dare say, your fate and my fate.”
The Oregon AFL-CIO endorsed the rally and several unions arranged for bus transportation to Salem from all corners of the state. Members of the American Federation of Government Employees-District 11 and Locals 2157 and 1127 helped organize the event, and members of those locals fanned out among the crowd to register new voters.
Other speakers at the rally included Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici; Secretary of State Kate Brown; retired Oregon state senator Margaret Carter; Margaret Butler, executive director of Portland Jobs with Justice; and Gerald Swanke, national vice president of AFGE District 11.
