Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment to ban abortion in the August 2 primary. A great deal of the credit for that stunning victory belongs to a new generation of young activists.
Young people worked tirelessly to mobilize Kansans to vote “no” on an amendment which, if passed, would have removed legal protection of abortions and allowed legislators to enact a complete ban on abortions in the state.
This work began even before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision in late June.
On May 17, hundreds of students at the two high schools in Lawrence, Kansas walked out of classes. In a Facebook message posted before the walkout, students from Lawrence High School and Free State High said the rally would consist of “raising our voices against the present political state right now in Kansas.” They were concerned about the looming U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion and other possible decisions undermining birth control and LGBTQ+ rights. “What happens today will affect us tomorrow; this is our future,” the post read.
Nearly 400 students at Lawrence High School walked out during fourth hour and traveled down Lawrence’s 23rd Street carrying signs. They chanted “My body, my choice” and were met with honks of support from cars, prompting cheers from the young demonstrators. Across town, students at Free State High School also walked out.
“I just think it’s really important for us to have control over our own bodies and I don’t think old politicians should be regulating what I do with my uterus and my life,” Lawrence High freshman Grace Sanders told the Budget, the student newspaper at Lawrence High.
The high school student walk-out was organized online via Instagram by Adriana Cazares, a student at Free State High School. She is not yet old enough to vote – but that has not stopped her from getting involved.
The May 17 protest was dramatic proof that the battle in Kansas has produced a new corps of young leaders intent on mobilizing their generation in the fight for justice. Young activists created the Kansas Youth Power Coalition, a broad alliance of numerous youth-led and youth-centered organizations. The coalition includes the Sunrise Movement Lawrence, BE SEEN, the Climate and Energy Project’s Kansas Environmental Youth Network, Destination Innovation, Loud Light, the New Frontiers Project, Progeny Kansas, Root the Power, Vote Neigh, and several Kansas chapters of the national organization URGE – Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equality.
Here are just a few of the young activists helping to change Kansas (and the country):
Rija Nazir is the lead organizer of Vote Neigh. In an interview with the Lawrence (Kansas) Times before the vote, Nazir explained: “Vote Neigh is meant to be super positive and bright, abortion positive, young, … Our main goal is to really mobilize young and marginalized people under 30.”
Nazir is an incoming senior at Wichita State University with future plans to attend law school. In addition to leading Vote Neigh, Nazir is an organizer with Loud Light, a Kansas organization focused on youth empowerment and youth voter turn-out.
Donnavan Dillon of Lawrence, Kansas joined Loud Light, and is working with other organizations in the Kansas Youth Power Coalition. Last fall, he was part of the Land Light student power campaign. Members worked to fight back against Kansas legislation that tightened voting restrictions, measures which in turn suppressed college voters. He is continuing as a Loud Light fellow this summer. Dillon is heading into his sophomore year at the University of Kansas, double majoring in political science and sociology. During his time at Lawrence High, he was the student body president.
Chloe Chaffin is an incoming junior at Washburn University in Topeka. She has helped revitalize Washburn’s chapter of URGE, an organization centered on reproductive justice. URGE has six chapters at colleges in Kansas.
Chaffin summed up what’s at stake in an interview with Maya Hodison of the Lawrence Times:
“It is also important to remind ourselves that Gen Z is the most diverse in the history of this country. They have unique experiences and perspectives to bring to the table and more information at their fingertips than earlier generations thought possible.
“They are the ones who will inherit the Earth and all the unfinished work of our elders. We have the passion and drive and a clear-eyed vision that will serve us well as we face ongoing crisis after ongoing crisis. These voices matter, thus their votes must as well.”
The Kansas Youth Power Coalition can be reached at: @ksyouthpower.
Chris Mahin is a writer, speaker and teacher on contemporary U.S. politics and history, particularly on the significance of the American Revolutionary War and Civil war eras for today. He is the Electoral Desk on the People’s Tribune Editorial Board.
