October 14-16, 2022 from Spring Hill to The Capitol
So this was where our adventures with Karen Brinker and Kali Koffroth began. Karen joined us on the Middle Tennessee leg of this walk, from Spring Hill through Wilson County. On her first day, she joined us through the suburban shopping areas of Spring Hill into Franklin. She hadn’t been active in movement or political work before, so we were moved by her willingness to make such a dedicated effort.
Kali (pronounced like “Cali”, the Golden State, not like the goddess) became our driver for the next few days, buoying our confidence and replenishing the cooler. Her presence gave us all an incredible comfort, both psychologically and physically, while we were walking.
By the way, it is worth noting that most of those who volunteered with us extensively had advanced degrees, like an MBA (which Kali had), PhD, DVM, MS, etc. Button and I lovingly joked that only those with doctorates could get ice for our cooler.
We were joined by several other supporters on our walk from Franklin to Nashville. Amy Ridings, Helen Koudelkova, Jan Hatleberg, and Button’s precious mother, Barbara Shelton. We met outside REI in Brentwood, where they gave me the appropriate footwear to make the rest of the journey.
We had about 10 miles to walk from Brentwood to Music City, where there was a large group ready to greet us, organized by the East Nashtivists, one of Planned Parenthood’s action councils. Our organizing model is to help support the creation of activist/advocacy groups all over Tennessee. We provide training and resource support, to grow citizen leadership that can build a powerful, informed base of supporters that can act independently, yet unified with Planned Parenthood values.
We were greeted by dozens of East Nashtivists and supporters when we arrived in downtown Nashville. It really lifted our spirits, and despite the ache in my bones, I had the energy to lead chants to the State Capitol. We were greeted by rally goers, with energizing speakers like Odessa Kelly who was running for Congress, Dr. Katrina Green, Dr. Amy Bono, LaQuita Martin, and Melissa Sautter.
Dr. Green, Dr. Bono and Mrs. Martin talked about how the ban disregarded the physician/patient relationship and put doctors in the difficult position of not being able to provide the care they know their patient may need. They each talked about their perspectives of pregnancies that can take an unexpected, tragic turn and how abortion is health care.
I talked about what I’ve mentioned on all my stops, that we have to be the ones that carry the value of bodily autonomy forward as our society, government and economy are on shifting sands. If we don’t carry this message of the political nature of embodiment into future generations, we could stand to irrevocably lose this right to our bodily sovereignty.
This was the same message I shared in a houseparty gathering in Franklin. Some of those women were utterly shocked that Roe fell and were vehement about raising this issue up with their Republican representatives at the state legislature. They wanted to know when we were getting Roe back and how we could get the legislature to remove the ban on abortion. I explained to them, although I’m not sure all of them believed me, that we are never getting Roe back. The only way we change legislators’ minds is to change the legislators. We have to talk to everyone we know and collectively vote them out!
Sorry to be the bearer of reality news. I know it’s important to try to influence the hearts and minds of these anti-choice politicians to see the light. To that I say, please go for it! I very sincerely would love to be wrong.
Tags: protest, Pilgrimage, WalkForOurLives
