(Lander, WY) – The Wyoming Women’s March — Lander happened on October 2nd in conjunction with over 600 marches across the Nation as part of the Women’s March Network’s “national call to mobilize and defend our reproductive rights.”
Around 120 community members participated on Saturday. They met at Dairyland at 11 am and walked down Main Street eventually convening at Centennial Park to hear from speakers from a variety of organizations which ranged from supporting abortion access to raising awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous people.
The marches were prompted by the recent “restrictive” abortion law enacted in Texas and ahead of the Supreme Court reconvening today, October 4th, who last month rejected the law suspension.
“It was pretty powerful to be one of 600 plus sister marches that took place across the United States,” shared Cristina Gonzalez, Wyoming Women’s March — Lander organizer.
“I think it was also a good representation that even though abortion rights are taboo to talk about individually, I think it gave a lot of individuals courage to come forward as pro-choice activists and also gave people a platform to come out saying, ‘I’ve had an abortion and I’m thankful for Roe v. Wade.’
“Which I think is something that, until this moment, has been really hard for individuals to acknowledge publicly if they’ve had an abortion or not. And I think a demonstration like this is really bringing to the forefront that this is something that we should be talking more about and not under hushed voices.”
Speakers included Christine Lichtenfels of Chelsea’s Fund, Chesie Lee of the Riverton Peace Mission, Lynnette Grey Bull of Not Our Native Daughters, Sydney Allred of Fremont County Alliance Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and LGBTQ+ community member Ari Kamil.
Christine Lichtenfels addresses attendees about Chelsea’s Fund (County 10 Photo) 
Lynnette Grey Bull shares about Not Our Native Daughters (County 10 Photo)
In addition to speakers, Cristina organized a voter registration booth with Fremont County Clerk Julie Freese for those wishing to register or needing to make changes.
“The biggest thing that I really would hope as a result of this, because there’s not going to be any immediate changes that we can see, but the biggest change that’s going to come down the road is to continue with civic engagement with voting and staying active,” she continued.
“Whether it be with volunteering with one of the organizations that we heard from at the March, or joining any of the various like voter leagues that we have within our community, but to continue to take this momentum and be civically engaged.”
Both the 40 Days for Life Campaign and the Wyoming Women’s March – Lander at Centennial Park Saturday
The pro-life campaign, 40 Days for Life, is currently underway in the vicinity of Centennial Park, and though participants in both events have opposing views things remained peaceful between the two.