(Austin, Texas) Green everywhere. Pans, like in the spring of 2012. Horns, more horns. Even the driver of a big black SUV, sporting bull horns – not exactly the most common outfit on the American left – took the time to honk his horn in support of the protesters.
Posted at 11:07 p.m.
Welcome to Austin, capital of Texas, but also the city that shatters any prejudice that we may have about the Lone Star State. It was here in Travis County that Joe Biden had his best result (71.6%) among the state’s 254 counties in the last presidential election.
And it was here that, for the second day in a row, protesters converged to express their dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, who protected the right to abortion.
“In summary, we are screwed, slice Leandra, a demonstrator met on the spot. It’s going to affect so many women in Texas. It’s upsetting. Many women like me have spent the last day crying, because we can’t believe such a thing could happen. »
Leandra’s sign, on which we read that “Marie had a choice”, stands out among the sometimes humorous, often unambiguous messages.
“I follow the Catholic4choice Instagram account [Catholique pro-choix] and I saw a similar message, she says. I grew up in a Catholic environment, attending pro-life rallies with my parents. So I have always been steeped in Catholicism. But when I was 16, I started doing my research on feminism and I became a feminist, and that helped push me away from some toxic beliefs. »
We therefore guess that she does not participate in the demonstration with the blessing of her parents. “I came from San Antonio, and if my parents knew I was here, they would be really angry,” she confirms.
Bee Browning, another demonstrator, holds up her placard which reads, on one side, that “vasectomies prevent abortions”.
PHOTO GUILLAUME LEFRANÇOIS, THE PRESS
Bee Browning, a protester
“It’s such a big issue. I’m at university and if I got pregnant, I would have to drop out, she explains. I should give up everything. I fight for my rights and for the rights of others, and it seems unfair to me that these white men decide what I do with my body. »
From Argentina to Texas
Hundreds of them braved the heat on Saturday to demonstrate in downtown Austin. The mercury reached 39°C at the end of the afternoon, before the official start of the march.
“I’m a little disappointed, there were thousands of us yesterday. Where have the people gone? », Says one of the women with the green headscarf into the microphone.
This scarf is from Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights, an organization that defends women’s right to abortion. The green is inspired “by the pro-choice movement in Argentina”, explains Coco Das, one of the organizers of the event. “These women never gave up and they won rights in Argentina. It spread to Colombia and Mexico, women took to the streets and won rights. So we’re picking up the torch here. »
PHOTO GUILLAUME LEFRANÇOIS, THE PRESS
Coco Das addresses the protesters.
After a rally in front of the Texas parliament, the demonstrators marched on Congress Street, heading for the Austin police headquarters. A demonstration under police surveillance, where no overflow was observed during the passage of The Press.
The language, on the other hand, left no doubt about the thoughts of the demonstrators. “F*** Greg Abbott,” the protesters chanted in chorus, referring to the Republican governor of the state.
Climate of mistrust
No overflow, therefore, but the tension was palpable. The protest was taking place in front of the Texas legislature headquarters, but the gates were closed and protesters were relegated to the sidewalk and traffic lanes of 11e Street, which surrounds the building. On the other side of the fence, a large police contingent.
At the microphone, one of the organizers unpacks a series of tips. “Stay hydrated, bottles of water are distributed,” he announces, before providing the phone number of a legal aid service, for those who need it.
“If the police stop you, give your name, but nothing more,” he said. If your phone is locked with facial recognition technology, create a passcode because if they grab your device, they’ll just have to put it in front of your face to gain access. »
Austin may be the blue oasis of the state, but Bee Browning remains wary.
“I was here yesterday, it felt safe, but I’m still on my guard, because I know that during the Black Lives Matter protests, there have been instances of police brutality. There were also counter-protesters who showed up armed with assault rifles. With everything that’s happened in the country in the last month, it’s terrifying. »