Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor
Saturday, Nov. 2, over 100 people gathered in Parker Plaza at Oregon State University to rally for women’s rights and voter participation. Before the event began, pieces of cardboard and markers were available for attendees to make their own signs.
Allison Doss, one of the organizers of the Get Out to Vote Women’s March, stepped in front of the crowd with a megaphone and welcomed everyone. “Look around you. Each face in this crowd represents a shared dream of a world where every person can live without fear, without barriers and without discrimination. Today we march for that world. We march for the voices that have been silenced, for the rights that have been denied and for the future that still needs our courage to make it possible. We march not only for ourselves, but for every woman who’s paved the way before us, and every young girl who will follow,” said Doss.
Many people in the crowd cheered, and some held up signs that said things such as “Vote,” “My body, my choice” and “Harris/Walz 2024.”
“This march isn’t just about a single moment, it’s about creating momentum,” said Doss. “It’s about changing systems that keep women marginalized, overlooked and underrepresented. It’s about reminding our leaders and communities that we will not rest until true equality and justice are achieved. To all of you here today, I thank you and let’s march.”
With that, the group of marchers set off to Central Park in Corvallis. A call and response chant started, with one person towards the front of the crowd shouting, “Whose choice?” and every other person shouting back, “My choice.”
“The big election is coming up and I think it’s really important for everyone to be voting right now, making sure other people vote,” said Grace McClaskey, a participant in the rally and a student at OSU. “It’s a scary time right now, for women especially. Getting awareness out there is really important right now.”
McClaskey hopes that this march will raise awareness and inspire other people. “A big thing has been people not voting because they think there’s no point in it and that things aren’t really going to change. It’s important to continually show that people do care and want the change to happen, and I think it eventually will.”
The march ended at Central Park with the attendees gathered around four guest speakers. Oregon state Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin was the first to deliver a speech.
Gelser Blouin focused on “making sure that we get the right leaders in the right places to amplify your voices and promise a bright, fair and just future to every single person here, including access to economic equity, access to abortion and health care services when you need it, and respect for every single person in this United States.”
Sarah Finger McDonald, a potential state representative, was next to take the megaphone. “The first time I ever spoke to a crowd at this park we were demanding stronger gun legislation. The last time I spoke to a crowd in this park was when we were demanding protection for our rights to legal and safe abortion. I believe those rights and so many more are on the ballot this election,” Finger McDonald said.
One person who was not part of the event interrupted Finger McDonald’s speech, saying, “You’re just standing around. Do something.” A member of the crowd then shouted back, “We’re going to do something.” The crowd cheered, and Finger McDonald finished her speech. She then introduced Val Hoyle, who is running for Congress.
“(My mother) fought to make birth control and abortion legal before Roe versus Wade. And she said, ‘I do not want to see my granddaughter or my children have less rights than I fought for,’” said Hoyle. “We can work to bring the protections that we had from Roe versus Wade throughout the country to make sure you all have the same rights that I did when I was growing up.”
The final speaker of the event was Sen. Jeff Merkley. “Thank you for giving me the chance to join you all on this stage with powerful, smart women who are driving change here in Oregon and in America,” said Merkley.
“There are two words that have never been spoken in the Oval Office, and the way that we organize and work in the next couple of days will determine whether or not we get to say those words. And those words are ‘Madam President.’
“How about we fight for lifting people up all across our state and across the country,” said Merkley. “How about affordable, reasonable college loans that don’t put a millstone around the neck of our youth? How about we fight to electrify everything with renewable energy so we stop climate chaos?”
After the speeches had concluded, every attendee was invited to volunteer for a Get Out to Vote canvas, where the volunteers could knock on doors in the area and have conversations with Corvallis residents about the upcoming election.
Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu
