‘Stand and fight’: Vice President Harris surprises crowd at reproductive rights rally in L.A.

Vice President Kamala Harris urged a gaggle of demonstrators gathered in downtown Los Angeles to “arise and combat” for its beliefs following latest courtroom rulings over reproductive rights which have divided the nation.

“While you assault the rights of girls in America, you might be attacking America,” Harris stated at a rally exterior Metropolis Corridor.

Harris’ shock look on the occasion was greeted with shrieks and applause from the gang. The vp, who was launched by Mayor Karen Bass, talked about her latest journeys abroad and warned that democracy was at stake at this “important second” in U.S. historical past.

“I essentially consider that you may gauge the energy of a democracy based mostly on the energy of girls in that democracy,” Harris stated.

Saturday’s rally, which drew a number of hundred individuals, was rapidly put collectively following U.S. District Decide Matthew Kacsmaryk’s latest determination to order a maintain on the Meals and Drug Administration’s approval of the abortion capsule mifepristone after greater than twenty years.

The Texas ruling may successfully halt FDA approval of mifepristone nationwide, together with in California and different states the place abortion is authorized.

The rally was hosted by Ladies’s March Motion, the political arm of a basis which seeks to advance the political energy of girls.

Harris, who has a house in Los Angeles, was delivered to the stage by Bass, who talked up the vp’s accomplishments and background. “We’ve got a vp who’s one in every of us!” Bass stated.

Harris, in her transient speech, talked about “those that would dare to assault basic rights and, by extension, assault our democracy. Round our nation, supposed so-called extremist leaders, who would dare to silence the voices of the individuals.”

“A United States Supreme Court docket — the best courtroom in our land — that took a constitutional proper that has been acknowledged from the individuals of America,” Harris stated. “We’ve got seen assaults on voting rights, assaults on basic rights to like and marry the individuals that you simply love, assaults on the power of individuals to be themselves and be pleased with who they’re.”

Different audio system at Saturday’s occasion additionally urged the gang to rally within the face of latest selections by justices and lawmakers.

“We received’t return, we received’t return!” shouted Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

The march started in downtown’s Pershing Sq. and reached Metropolis Corridor round midday.

Kathleen Schwartz protests a latest ruling by a Texas federal choose to override the FDA’s approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, at Pershing Sq. on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA.

(Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Instances)

Amongst these within the crowd was Hollywood resident Kathleen Schwartz, who stated abortion ought to be a choice “between the physician and the lady.”

“I really feel it’s essential to be out right here and say ‘no’ to what’s occurring on this nation,” Schwartz stated, including that she was protesting for future generations, together with any grandchildren she might need.

“I’m 67 years outdated, and I actually shouldn’t must be doing this anymore,” Schwartz stated. “But it surely’s essential.”

Riley Grace, 12, and Evan Smith, 14, got here to the rally collectively. The 2 are pals and attend the identical faculty.

Evan carried an indication that confirmed a coat hanger and skim “Hold your legal guidelines off our our bodies.”

Riley, who lives in Koreatown, stated she got here to Saturday’s occasion as a result of she desires “to be on the suitable aspect of historical past.”

“I need to be somebody who can say, ‘I fought for my rights and made certain that my future is safe and my future is secure,’ ” she stated.

Smith, who occurred to put on a Kamala Harris T-shirt to the rally, texted her household because the vp spoke.

“I used to be like, Oh my god, she’s proper right here!”