I am sorry. To all the women and girls who woke up to see Donald Trump had won the 2024 U.S. election. America has once again chosen a convicted felon and accused rapist to run the country, instead of defending your right to decide what to do with your body.
My heart goes out to those who voted for human rights above gas prices. To every person who convinced themselves there was no way that Kamala could lose, I am sorry people chose a reduction in taxes over the well-being of other people.
To every cis-man who voted against women’s reproductive rights, I would say to you, “no uterus, no opinion.” But even with me saying this it won’t stop cis-men from having their view on women’s reproductive rights, despite never personally having the right to choose stripped from them.
For those saying “the world will keep spinning,” it won’t. For all the women and girls who will die trying to perform back-alley abortions, there will be no tomorrow.
To the women who will be sexually assaulted and forced to carry to term, my heart shatters for you.
As I write this, I am still in shock despite the election results being announced over a week ago. I was in my first year of high school when Trump was first elected, and now I am graduating from university within the year he will be inaugurated.
Despite the vast difference in my age from when Trump was first elected to office, my view stays the same.
Women, girls, POC and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals were failed that day. The system that was supposed to protect them from injustice and harm failed them. America elected a president who has and will continue to bring detrimental harm to the citizens it’s supposed to be protecting.
Even though we live in Canada, these political decisions will directly affect how we govern our country and influence our politics despite people saying it won’t.
Your mothers, sisters and daughters will suffer from this injustice. Even though we don’t live in the U.S., as a fellow woman, I see the pain on the internet, in articles, from family and friends of the loss for every woman hoping it won’t be her rights taken next. We mourn the loss of this basic human right stripped from the women in America.
Despite Trump being found liable for sexual abuse, there are plenty of other factors that should have immediately disqualified Trump from running at all. The inciting of an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6th, 2021, resulted in a violent mob leading to five deaths.
A total number of 34 felony counts are imposed on Trump. With all these felony counts he was allowed to run in the 2024 U.S. election.
As a woman, we are taught to quiet ourselves to protect ourselves instead of teaching boys not to assault us.
Trump being elected is doing the opposite. It is teaching men and boys to take what they want — women’s rights, safety and identity — as the world will allow them to. Trump being elected teaches boys that it’s okay.
To all the men who agree with Trump’s morals or standpoint, I am not asking to stand as your equal — I already am. I am asking you to see and acknowledge that everyone has the right to their bodily autonomy, even if you disagree with abortion. Your disagreement doesn’t give you the right to eradicate it. I am simply asking you to acknowledge women as your equals and acknowledge their right to choose.
I have one message to women and girls — fight. Fight like your life depends on it. Speak louder, stand taller, take risks and do everything you can. Even if you fail, know there will always be a woman somewhere cheering you on in the silent battles you fight every day.
I am begging you to please carefully consider your decision before voting. Especially in the upcoming Canadian election, vote for human rights, not just a tax cut. Consider your sister, mother or daughter when choosing how you vote. Ultimately trust women with the right to choose what to do with their own bodies.
