Reproductive Freedom bus tour across Pennsylvania keeps pressure up on Trump’s health care bans, record

Just 51 days before the election, the Harris/Walz campaign’s “Fighting for Reproductive Freedom” bus tour kicked off Sunday across the street from the birthplace of the U.S. Constitution inside Independence Visitor Hall Center in Old City. 

Hadley Duvall, reproductive rights advocate and sexual assault survivor from Kentucky, spoke at the event, asking Trump, “What is so beautiful about making a 12 year old carry the child of their parent, to tell a girl who has already been robbed of her childhood that you are now taking her future away?” 

And while she said it’s an unimaginable scenario, it’s real and happening across the country. She speaks at events for the Harris/Walz campaign to underline the critical role reproductive freedom will play in shaping the nation’s future. The country could either uphold democratic norms and individual freedoms or veer toward a pathway of surveillance and loss of autonomy, she tells crowds. 

Duvall was sexually assaulted by her stepfather from ages five to twelve. At twelve years old, Duvall found herself pregnant after being raped by her stepfather. At that point in time, she had options that she wouldn’t have now because her home state of Kentucky’s new law would force her to carry the baby.  Because of Donald Trump, an extreme abortion ban is now in place with no exceptions for victims of rape and incest. 

“I will vote for the girls of America who are too young to have an opinion, but just old enough to suffer the damage,” she said.  

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro attended the event and “made it clear that doors are open in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” Shapiro said that thousands of women are coming from West Virginia and Ohio for basic reproductive care. 

Just because abortions are legal in Pennsylvania, doesn’t mean that they can’t be restrictive. In the 1970s, Pennsylvania had approximately 145 abortion providers. Now, the state is left with 17.  

“Make no mistake, Donald Trump will sign a national abortion ban,” Shapiro said. 

Still, Shapiro remains hopeful and reminded Pennsyvanians they have the opportunity to vote in a president that will protect the rights of women and continue a legacy of freedom.  

Shapiro recounted a story about the early days of America, when a Philadelphian asked founding father Benjamin Franklin if America was a monarchy or republic. Franklin famously said, as told by Shapiro, “We have a republic, if you keep it.” He reminded the audience that for the last  248 years, “we’ve been doing the hard work necessary to not just keep it, but to write this American story.” 

“The power in your hands is the same power that our ancestors and their ancestors and theirs before had to write this story. It is about ordinary Americans rising up, demanding more, seeking justice and realizing their power,” he added.

Dr. Blythe Bynum shared the future consequences for patients and their doctors if Trump initiates a total abortion ban. 

“I will face the impossible decision of saving a woman’s life and risking prosecution or abandoning our oath and watching our patients suffer,” she said.  

“No matter what our leaders here (in PA) at the state or local level do, Trump will   away the protections that Vice President Harris and this administration have established, and he will have the Department of Justice go after healthcare providers and anyone who dares to get the care that they need by using the Comstock Act that promises to criminalize the mailing of all abortion medication.” 

Hundreds of audience members holding signs “Stop Trump Abortion Ban” and “Reproductive Freedom,” understood the severity of this total ban. Voter Ebony Graham holds onto her Christianity and wants people to stop weaponizing religious beliefs. 

“Our religion is supposed to be a bridge,” she said. “It’s never supposed to be a weapon. And we have to speak up as a Christian people, because our flock is running crazy and they’re making it seem like we are hateful people and we’re not.” 

The Reproductive Freedom Bus Tour continues with stops across Pennsylvania. On Monday, they hit college campuses in Philadelphia starting at Temple University where they were joined by actress Kate Walsh, Jack Schlossberg, and the “I’ve Had It” podcast team. On Tuesday, the tour heads to Allentown and Scranton, followed by a stop in Harrisburg on Wednesday, where Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey will join.