Today, tens of thousands of individuals are anticipated to rally across the United States in support of US Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid.
The annual Women’s March is set to occur in Washington DC and in various cities nationwide, just three days ahead of the US Election.
According to organizers, this year’s theme, ‘We Won’t Go Back!’ signifies resistance to a potential second Donald Trump presidency and the implications it could have for women’s rights.
The Women’s March was first initiated in 2017 as a response to the inauguration of then-President Trump.
The Power of the Female Vote
Although Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has been cautious about emphasizing her gender, asserting that her presidency would mark the first time a woman holds the office, she has nonetheless made women’s issues a focal point of her campaign.
Women constitute the largest voting bloc in the country and are recognized for their high turnout rates in elections. A recent New York Times/Sienna College poll indicates that the two presidential candidates are nearly tied among white female voters.
Ms. Harris has made women’s issues a central aspect of her campaign.
Mr. Trump has previously garnered significant support from white women. In 2016, 47% of white women cast their votes for him, compared to 45% for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
In 2020, Donald Trump’s support among white women rose to 53%.
Vice President Harris’ strategy aims to regain some of that backing by energizing women across the political spectrum around one particularly impactful issue.
Reproductive Rights
During this election cycle, the economy and inflation rank as the top concerns for women, while Donald Trump has sought to win over female voters by addressing their safety concerns.
“I want to protect the women of our country… I’m going to do it whether the women like it or not,” he asserted at a rally in Wisconsin last week.
For the vice president and her campaign team, the focus has been on reproductive rights—considered the next most significant issue for women.
Ms. Harris has portrayed the former president as a ‘threat’ to these rights.
The US Supreme Court overturned the national constitutional right to abortion in 2022.
The campaign has also targeted “shy” Harris supporters—women who may be affiliated with a Trump-supporting family or circle but are uneasy about the implications of another Trump-led administration for women’s rights.
In a commercial voiced by Hollywood actress Julia Roberts, women are urged to utilize their ‘secret ballot’ to support Kamala Harris.
Abortion is on the Ballot
In 2022, the US Supreme Court rescinded the national constitutional right to abortion, leaving individual states to determine their own regulations regarding pregnancy termination.
Reproductive rights do not strictly align with party lines.
In 2022, Republican-leaning states, including Kansas, Kentucky, and Montana, rejected attempts to impose restrictions or eliminate existing protections for abortion access.
On Election Day, ten states will offer voters the chance to decide whether to protect abortion access in their state constitutions.
Read more about the US election 2024
Mr. Trump has claimed he was ‘proud’ to help overturn Roe v. Wade, crediting his appointment of three conservative Supreme Court Justices during his presidency.
However, since then, he has sought to moderate his stance on abortion and has avoided addressing the issue directly.
If Ms. Harris can effectively rally support from pro-choice Republican women in key swing states, it could significantly tilt the balance in her favor.
Demonstrators are expected to gather at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC at 7pm Irish time and march towards the White House, where prominent lawyers, activists, and leaders are anticipated to address the rally.
