The organizers of Teens For Choice STL, Cha Cha Rubin, Noa Cohen and Poppy Orchard, speak on why they decided to hold a rally for abortion rights. “Even though many of us can not vote, we can exercise our right to freedom of expression, assembly and of course bodily autonomy. We are the future and we need to do what we can to make a future we want to live in before we can directly participate in politics. By coming out and showing our beliefs in these freedoms, we are making more of an impact than what it may seem on the surface. We find it necessary to have people our age to connect with as our peers as it creates a more safe environment, which is especially important when talking about important topics like sexual health. We have been in contact with ProChoice Missouri, Planned Parenthood and elected officials. Social media has been crucial to getting the word out and we have over 1.3 thousand separate users following us. Furter, if you want to contact us in the future, DM us on teens for choice STL on instagram”, said Noa Cohen.

One speaker at the Teens for Choice STL Abortion Rights rally said, “I just want to say how amazing it is to be out here with so many people who are supporting our rights. Most of us aren’t able to vote, and it is so frustrating to see people who are never going to have to suffer the consequences of their actions, make choices for us. We are the ones who have to grow up in a world with these old white men, if we don’t get out in the streets and change things. It is so important that we come out here and make sure our voices are heard. If we don’t fight for ourselves and we don’t fight for each other, nobody will.”

One organizer of the rally, Poppy Orchard, said, “This issue is so overly politicized and taboo so it can be very touchy and regardless of if you agree with what people are saying, it’s never fun having people tell you what to do with your body. We are definitely going to organize more events like this; we were just discussing it. We are thinking of maybe doing rallies like this seasonally as well as work more on some peer educational things and lobbying. We aren’t exactly sure where this is going because it’s so new, but make sure you follow @TeensForChoiceSTL on instagram to stay updated on future events.”

Attendee holds sign saying “Our Bodies. Our Lives. Our choices.”

Clinic Escorts outside Planned Parenthood in St. Louis, uniformed with rainbow vests. “The role of a clinic escort is to walk with patients from their car in the parking lot to the door. The reason why our job even exists is because most clinics are usually surrounded by violent, angry, white supremacists and sometimes terrorists —protesters, who shout terrible things at the patients and sometimes get violent and so our job is to just be a shield for the patients walking in”, said one clinic escort.

Attendees at the rally hold signs saying, “Pray to end men controlling women’s bodies” and “Not your body. Not your choice.”

Planned Parenthood building in St.Louis, Missouri.

An attendee at the rally holds a sign that reads, “We can’t go back,” with a drawing of a drawing of a hanger.

Religious scapular dangles in tree outside Planned Parenthood in St.Louis Missouri, left behind by previous protesters.

An attendee at the rally for abortion rights holds a sign saying, “Men shouldn’t be making laws about Women’s bodies”.

Attendee at Teens For Choice STL Rally for Abortion rights hold sign saying “I am a Woman. Not a Womb”.