In response to the Texas abortion bill, students led a Women’s March on Binghamton University, as similar marches occurred simultaneously around the nation.

The march was held on Saturday, Oct. 2, beginning at 1 p.m. The march was organized by Planned Parenthood Generation Binghamton, an organization run by BU students focused on sexual and reproductive health.

According to Emily Sadutto, the president of Planned Parenthood Generation Binghamton and a sophomore majoring in political science, the march was in protest to Senate Bill 8 in Texas, and meant to bring awareness to how restrictive abortion bills impact many different communities.

”Our speakers will highlight how these types of bills impact the LGBTQIA+ and [Black, Indigenous and people of color] communities, survivors of sexual violence, individuals from low-income backgrounds, college students and so many more,” Sadutto said.

Senate Bill 8 bans abortion after approximately six weeks in Texas. It relies on enforcement through civil lawsuits brought forth by private citizens against anyone who provides or aids in an unlawful abortion.

Additionally, the organizers collaborated with campus organizations such as SHADES and the American Red Cross club.

According to Joseph Knudsen, the president of the American Red Cross club and a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, the organization became involved due to their alignment with Planned Parenthood on issues regarding health-related personal freedoms.

”[Senate Bill 8] is a bill that transfers the human rights of certain individuals to an authority that is not their own,” Knudsen said. “Individuals affected are stripped of their right to choose what happens to their body. We are honored to be a part of an event that addresses these issues and works hard to be inclusive of all backgrounds and identities. We hope to raise awareness among individuals on campus and in our community of the harmful effects of limiting personal freedoms. The American Red Cross Club is motivated to stand against policies that are counterproductive to our humanitarian mission.”

The march started with the organizations welcoming student participants at booths outside the Peace Quad, where students were free to pick up a sign or other merchandise from the organizations involved. Next, students heard from multiple speakers on issues related to the abortion restrictions.

Qi Tong Wu, a sophomore majoring in biology, said she became involved in the march because health care is an important issue to her and said she was upset with the enforcement of the bill.

”Health care and making it acceptable is near to my heart,” Wu said. “[Senate Bill 8] is attacking not just abortion but health care. Six weeks is not enough time for a woman to figure out if she is pregnant or not. The fact that this bill is a law enforced by citizens is messed up. The way Texas wants to find a loophole around the fact it is illegal is by using citizens.”

Dara Silberstein, associate research professor of women, gender and sexuality studies, was one of the speakers. Silberstein’s speech focused on how Senate Bill 8 interferes with Roe v. Wade and the right to privacy.

”The point of [Roe v. Wade] was to make sure that all women had the right to make the reproductive decision about abortion, not just some who happen to live in a state that protects the right,” Silberstein said. “We need to be clear about what is at stake. [Roe v. Wade] was based on a fundamental right to privacy that the Supreme Court found to be so basic that the Founding Fathers did not feel it necessary to make it explicit, but to be implied by the enumerated rights protected by the Bill of Rights. If [Roe v. Wade] is no longer law, a host of other rights might also be suspect, including the right to access birth control and, potentially, the right to queer sexualities and same-sex marriage.”

After the speakers wrapped up, students picked up their signs and began the march around campus. Their route went around the Brain before ending at the Peace Quad. Students echoed chants from the march’s leaders as they walked.

Caroline Cahill, the treasurer of Planned Parenthood Generation Binghamton and a sophomore majoring in biochemistry, expressed she was proud of the work the organization was doing.

”I was involved with the Women’s March [Bing] last October,” Cahill said. “It was the first thing we did even before Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood reached out to us and told [us Planned Parenthood Generation Binghamton] was a thing we could do and we said we would love it. We really want to get chartered so we can reach more of the school. But we are doing so great not being chartered.”