Early Saturday, Oct. 2, thousands joined a rally outside of the Colorado State Capitol in support of reproductive rights. The rally, hosted by Womxn’s March Denver, was part of a nationwide call to action after the near-total Texas abortion ban came into effect on Sept. 1.

Colorado’s Planned Parenthood clinics have seen a 130% increase in patients seeking abortion services since September 2021. This sudden surge in patients is attributed to women from Texas pursuing abortion access as a result of the newly passed Texas abortion ban, SB8.

SB8, otherwise known as the Heartbeat Act, was passed to protect the lives of unborn children, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The ban prevents physicians from providing abortion services after the detection of fetal cardiac activity, which can occur as early as five to six weeks after conception. SB8 provides exceptions for medical emergencies but not for rape or incest.

The ban also states that citizens can file civil lawsuits against anyone who aids in an abortion. The vague wording of SB8 places anyone — not just physicians —who aid in providing women with abortion services at legal risk.

Over 600 rallies and marches in support of reproductive rights were held nationwide on Oct. 2 in response to SB8. The goal of these events was to deliver a unified message of opposition to SB8 to the Supreme Court and other lawmakers. Here are five important things to know about the rally and the organization that hosted it:

1. The rally was COVID-19 conscious

Womxn’s March Denver estimates around 5000 people participated in the rally, a significant amount in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, hand sanitizer and free masks were provided at the event. The emails from the national Women’s March team made it clear that COVID-19 safety would be a priority at all rallies. The emails encouraged social distancing and urged participants to wear a mask.

2. The rally prioritized inclusivity

Speakers at the rally included LGBTQ+ individuals, women of color, and a former sex worker. In an interview, Womxn’s March Denver Chair of the Board of Directors Suzie Schuckman explained that the organization worked to create a list of leaders in the Denver Metro area that demonstrated intersectionality within feminism.

“We were able to introduce a historically homogenous community to a lot of diverse voices that they may not even realize are doing the work here in Denver, ” Schuckman stated.

The emphasis on diversity was not lost on rally participants. Leslie Hisman, a DU student who attended the rally, stated that she felt the rally catered to “women who are not just cis, women who are not just white, and the people speaking represented those communities as well.”

3. The rally was about more than reproductive rights

The rally also addressed legalizing sex work, racism, and the experience of living in the U.S. as an immigrant, underlining how reproductive rights are affected by issues of intersectionality.

Hisman stated that she felt the rally was for “Women who do sex work, and women who make choices that maybe are looked down on but should not be.”

4. The rally was the first event hosted by Womxn’s March Denver since Jan. 2020

COVID-19 prevented Womxn’s March Denver from hosting their annual march in January of 2021. However, the organization continued its activist work through the pandemic, utilizing digital platforms and focusing on increasing voter access and registration through a #Vote2Vent campaign. Womxn’s March Denver hopes to resume their annual marches in 2022.

5. Womxn’s March Denver – and the events they host – depend on community support

Womxn’s March Denver is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that is entirely volunteer-run. Schuckman explained that Womxn’s March Denver’s current revenue stream consists only of donations and that the organization cannot do activist work alone.

“We need people to continue to show up, to represent, and to be open to going on this journey with us and to learning along the way… every little bit helps.”