ELY- It was nearly standing room only last Sunday for pro-choice voters attending “ElyVotesChoice,” an event held at the Hidden Valley Chalet and hosted by Ely EMPOWER.
The EMPOWER organization was created in 2002 after the death of progressive DFL Senator Paul Wellstone, and today is an organization of 90 progressive women focused on choice, peace and justice, and women’s leaderhip, according to EMPOWER President Janine Patten.
The evening’s main speaker was Leah Rogne, a well-known North Country political activist and retired political science professor. Rogne spoke about the history of abortion, the upcoming elections, and the importance of voting for candidates who are committed to maintaining Minnesota’s status as a state that protects a women’s right to choose. She emphasized the importance of voting for candidates who support choice.
“While Abortion is currently legal in Minnesota up to viability, and the previous restrictions that were in place have been struck down, there is no guarantee that will remain the case if Republicans gain control of state government again,” Rogne said.
Following Rogne, several speakers took the mic to discuss more dire situations in surrounding states. EMPOWER board member Nancy Powers shared information about how a woman’s right to choose is being limited in North Dakota. Additional EMPOWER members to speak were Chris Kloppenberg, who outlined the near total banning of abortions in Wisconsin following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and Betty Firth, who talked about Kansas where voters recently rejected a ballot measure that would have restricted abortion rights.
EMPOWER member and “ElyVotesChoice” organizer Linda Ganister outlined several action items, some of which included: making sure you’re registered to vote, supporting pro-choice candidates by displaying signs, wearing buttons, sticking a bumper sticker on your car, laptop, notebook, etc., donating money to support women’s health services at Planned Parenthood, getting a friend or relative to register to vote and making sure they get to the polls. These are just a few of the many ways available to take action to help promote choice.
Maddie Fahnline referenced the book, “Dirt Road Revival: How to Rebuild Rural Politics and Why Our Future Depends On It,” when she spoke of the power of homemade signs to influence local elections. She then encouraged all attendees to make use of the supplies provided to make a sign of their own.
Van and the Free Candies provided the evening’s music and started their set by leading a sing-along round to “Roe, Roe, Roe the vote.”