In a recent interview on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” Vice President Kamala Harris invoked the memory of Bloody Sunday in her discussion of women’s rights, particularly focusing on abortion, a stance that has stirred considerable debate. The interview, which aired on Monday, featured Harris and host Drew Barrymore discussing the importance of voting rights and the implications of the recent Dobbs decision which overturned Roe v. Wade.
During the conversation, Barrymore highlighted her transformative experience walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, a key site in the civil rights movement. The Vice President recounted the courage of the young leaders of Bloody Sunday, who marched for voting rights despite facing severe law enforcement brutality. She connected these historical events to current issues surrounding women’s rights, asserting, “This is not only about the women of America, it’s about everyone.”
Vice President Harris emphasized that the fight for freedom and equality seen during Bloody Sunday is mirrored in today’s struggles for women’s rights, including abortion. She remarked, “It’s about the promise of America, it’s about — you can’t take freedoms,” echoing her broader view that America’s promise includes ensuring equality for all.
The Vice President also addressed other aspects of women’s rights, such as pay equity in sports, before criticizing the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs, stating that the justices had removed a “constitutional right that had been recognized from the women of America.” She argued passionately against state interference in personal decisions, asserting, “One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government should not be telling her what to do with her body.”
Barrymore praised Harris for her role as the first female vice president and her advocacy for women, expressing a newfound concern for gender equality stemming from recent legislative actions against reproductive rights.
The Vice President’s attempt to link the civil rights movement with contemporary issues of abortion rights has raised eyebrows, with critics questioning the appropriateness of comparing historical voting rights struggles with current debates over reproductive rights. Such comparisons might be seen as diluting the specific historical significance of events like Bloody Sunday by broadening their application to encompass unrelated modern political issues.
This interview underscores the ongoing tension in American politics where historical analogies are drawn into contemporary battles over rights and freedoms. The implications of such comparisons will likely fuel further discourse on the appropriateness and effectiveness of invoking historical events to frame modern political arguments.
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