washington – Thousands of women marched in the nation’s capital and elsewhere Saturday to support abortion rights and other feminist causes ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Demonstrators carried posters and banners through the city streets and chanted slogans such as “We will not go back.” Some men also joined them. Speakers warned people vote in the election — not just for the president, but also for undervoting matters such as changes regarding abortion rights these appear before voters in various states.

At the Women’s March on Washington, feminist activist Fanny Gomez-Lugo told the crowd, “Abortion is freedom!” Before chanting the slogan, he read a list of states with abortion-related ballot measures.

In Kansas City, Missouri, rally organizers urged people to register to knock on doors to vote for an abortion rights measure.

Abortion rights for women under 30 have been inflation’s top issue in presidential elections since Vice Kamala Harris He replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee against Republican former President Donald Trump. According to a survey Number of female voters by KFF.

Voting initiatives have increased in response to the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that: ended abortion rights nationwide took the issue to the states.

Nine states to consider constitutional amendments protecting abortion rights — Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada and South Dakota. Most guarantee the right to an abortion until the fetus is viable and then allow it if necessary for the pregnant woman’s health.

a recommended one change in new york It does not specifically mention abortion but prohibits discrimination based on “pregnancy outcomes” and “reproductive health and autonomy.”

Some of Saturday’s rally participants also advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, higher wages, paid sick leave and greater efforts against gun violence.