GRR! Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights
By Caydince Bumpus, Community Editor
With the recent announcement of Donald Trump being the presidential elect, it is important to remember that there are still organizations and people that want to help the fight for reproductive rights to remain strong. And some of those people just happen to be involved with GRR!
GRR! which stands for Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights agreed to do an interview and share the insides of the organization. The following is the mission statement of GRR! “Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights (GRR!) works, through education and advocacy, to secure access to sexual & reproductive health, rights, and justice for present and future generations.” We are living in a time where grandmothers are fighting for the same rights that we are still fighting for. GRR! was founded by women who grew up in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. At this time there was limited access to birth control, many women having to go without. At this time many women were also dying from unsafe abortions, as abortions were illegal. Unhappy with the circumstances that they were living in, women collectively came together and formed GRR!
Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights wants to move our current world into a place where everyone can have access to sexual and reproductive health care, with the inclusion of abortion. GRR! wants a world where everyone has the ability to use their human rights, allowing them to do what they want with their own body, whether this means having children or not having them. The point is to have the option to make their own decisions, and be able to safely act afterward that decision has been made. At its core, GRR! is attempting to enlighten people through teachings on anti-abortion centers, direct stories from elders on abortion, demonstrations, community-building, and even advocacy on policy change.
So what can USM students do? How can we help with the cause? GRR! has expressed that they are always interested in meeting with students who are passionate about reproductive justice. If you’re part of a student group that could benefit from a talk with GRR! reach out and see if they would be able to visit. They also want to hear your voices when it comes to your own personal experiences, they want to hear your voice on matters that affect you. If you’re interested in getting involved, reach out to info@grrnow.org information for GRR! can also be found at www.grrnow.org
So why is GRR! important in a time like this? Even though reproductive rights, health, and justice is directly affecting the women of America, and all over the world right now, the decisions that are being made now are going to directly affect future generations. Women in states where abortion is illegal are being offered up like lambs to a slaughter. Politicians have decided that it is better to let unsafe pregnancies dangerously affect a mother before they allow Doctors to step in, oftentimes letting both the mother and child die. How is this justified? Why would anyone want to have children in a world like this? If we want things to change, we have to get out there and fight for this change to happen. Cait Vaughn, the Director of Programs and Outreach at GRR! shared a powerful statement that everyone should hear, “I encourage everyone to connect with their elders and people younger than them, because with all our insights, rage, love, and power combined—we are unstoppable, and victory is inevitable.” Yes, it may be tiring, and it may seem like it will never change, but if we get out there and talk loud enough to the point where we can’t be silenced, I believe that this victory will eventually be reached.