Women gathered during the Republican National Convention to promote women's rights. Photo by Samantha Battsby/The Minaret
Along with many other groups jockeying for attention in support of their cause, a trio of women’s rights protesters took a stand at the recent Republican National Convention in downtown Tampa. The women, speaking passionately, stood out from the male-heavy crowd, in part due to the provocative signs they carried.
They were all from Florida, including Hyde Park and Orlando. They protested throughout the convention. According to the women, they had a great response from many passersby, but there were also moments of controversy.
The women did not garner a huge response from the Republicans attending the convention. “They’re busy behind the barricades and then they’re at private parties funded by corporations, rich people and lobbyists,” said Carol Roshto-Smith, the main voice of the group.
The women appeared on the evening news on Wednesday, Aug. 29. On Bay News 9, Roshto-Smith stated, “Republicans need to admit that there is global warming before the planet is destroyed.” According to a March 2012 Gallup Politics report, “Since 2009, two thirds of Republicans have continued to say global warming news is exaggerated, while Independents’ skepticism has eased slightly, as has Democrats.’”
In addition to fighting for women’s rights and raising global warming awareness, the trio promoted Christians for Obama. According to Roshto-Smith, “A man walked by saying that he didn’t know there were any Christians for Obama.” After talking to these pro-choice women, a number of passersby seemed surprised and were quickly convinced by the Christian support for Obama.
Protesters switched from discussing President Obama to women's rights in general. Photo by Samantha Battersby/The Minaret
In fact, support for Obama from the Christian community is quite strong. According to The Blaze, a conservative news and opinion site, Messiah College professor John Fea believes “Obama may be the most explicitly Christian president in American history.”
In the Blaze report, Fea argues Obama “may still have something to offer those individuals who embrace religion.” In addition, part of Fea’s argument is Obama covers Christian themes in his speeches.
The discussion outside the convention occasionally switched from discussing President Obama to discussing women’s rights in general. At one point, a passerby and the trio of women became entangled in an especially heated argument. The argument focused on whether a woman should have her baby if it is conceived through a forced sexual assault.
The argument included phrases such as, “Get out of my face”; “I’m not in your face”; “Are you mental or something?”; and “What about the choice of the baby?”
Ultimately, no one was hurt during that particular debate and the women believed they made a strong stand at the Republican National Convention.
Yasaman Sherbaf can be reached at yasaman.sherbaf@theminaretonline.com
