I am absolutely thrilled and energized to once again have the opportunity to elect a pro-choice, well-qualified, experienced woman to be president of the United States of America.
It has been my dream since I was a little girl.
I had been a delegate for Hillary Clinton at the 2008 convention, and continued to be inspired by her throughout her political career: her books, her speeches and her positions of power, such as the one and only First Lady to run for theU.S. Senate, and win, as well as U.S. Secretary of State.
When she ran for president in 2016, and won the Democratic nomination, I was so excited to work for her campaign, and work to help elect our first woman president.
Election night was finally here, and we were so confident that it was going to happen, that we invited friends over for a “watch party”, complete with a very nice bottle of champagne.
The polls had been showing her ahead, and boy, were we in the mood to party. But as the numbers came rolling in, things began to look grimmer. I couldn’t believe it. She actually won the popular vote, however, not the electoral vote.
My heart just sank. We had all worked so hard to help get her elected. Phone calls, walking door to door, donations, you name it. But just not quite enough.
More: Abortion-rights, anti-abortion protesters clash at rallies in Rockford after Roe V. Wade decision
Apparently I was not the only one whose heart broke that night, because very shortly after, masses of people were marching in the streets coast to coast, with signs pleading with the new president not to take away our reproductive rights: “Girls Just Want Have Fun-damental Rights," "We Won’t Go Back” and “Keep Abortion Safe and Legal.”
A group of loyal members of Winnebago County Citizens for Choice traveled to Chicago to march. About 50,000 were expected however as the streets swelled with ticked off people, the totals were closer to 250,000.
Although the election was over, it was so powerful to be among those marchers who, like us, realized, we would soon lose our most fundamental right to our own private, most personal decision.
This is healthcare and as our Vice President candidate, Tim Walz says, “Its our own damn business.”
And sure enough, Donald Trump couldn’t wait to overturn Roe v. Wade, which passed in 1973 giving women and families access to take care of their reproductive needs, nationwide.
He brags that his Supreme Court Justice appointees gave power back to the states to decide how severely they want torestrict choice for women and families.
I tell this story to remind all who care deeply about not just losing this fundamental right, but the fact that if this freedom to personal, private decisions can be overturned after nearly 50 years, what else can be taken away?
And which candidates can we depend on to strengthen our democracy vs. the one who will take it away, as Trump has promised to do?
This is a crucial time for our country, and each and every person who has the privilege and the right to vote must participate.
We must all become activists until the votes are counted. Do not rely on the polls. Keep up the enthusiasm for Harris and Walz who are spreading a message of joy and what our country is possible of achieving.
And always remember: Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Barb Giolitto is the president of Winnebago County Citizens for Choice . Giolitto's column is submitted on behalf of the Winnebago County Citizens for Choice board of directors: President Barb Giolitto, Vice President Sara Dady, Treasurer Pete Giolitto, Secretary Peggy Menze, Wanda Hoover, Gaen McClendon, Jennifer Riley, Cathy Herdeman and Laura Larke.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Your turn: What it would mean to have a pro-choice woman as President
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