As the 2024 presidential election approaches this Tuesday, the stakes couldn’t be higher for millions of Americans as Donald Trump and JD Vance face off against Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

For Navy veteran, activist, and CEO of women-led podcast network MSW Media Allison Gill, this election is of particularly pressing importance. In a poignant new ad targeting military families and veterans in North Carolina, released Oct. 18, Gill tells her own story of trauma and resilience and underscores what could be at risk if Trump is re-elected.

“Twenty-nine years ago, while serving in the U.S. military, I was drugged and violently raped,” Gill says in the ad, her voice calm but filled with deep conviction. “This crime led to an unwanted pregnancy. At the time, Roe v. Thanks to the protections under Wade, I was able to receive reproductive health care in Florida, where I worked.”

Gill’s words carry urgency as the 2024 elections approach. With Roe v. Wade is upsetHe fears a world in which military members serving in states with restrictive laws face insurmountable challenges.

“When I heard Roe was overturned, I immediately thought of those who would be trapped,” he tells The Drum. “Soldiers stationed in banned states may have to go through rapists to get leave approval. “This is now a possible reality.”

Gill’s current campaign, supported by the political action committee Artists United for Change, is both deeply personal and meticulously executed. He wrote the ad himself and placed his first-hand experiences at the center of the ad.

To bring his story to life with gravitas and sensitivity, Gill turned to filmmaker Dan Przygoda, known for his influential work on the January 6 Committee and for capturing viral footage of Senator Josh Hawley fleeing the Capitol during the 2021 attack.

The campaign’s media strategy focuses squarely on the swing state of North Carolina. The plan includes digital placements, social media promotions and local TV spots during popular sporting events; all designed to attract military families where they live and vote.

“If Trump loses North Carolina, he loses,” Gill says. “That’s why we’re focusing our efforts here.”

A life dedicated to justice

Gill’s passion for justice did not begin with this campaign; It started in his childhood.

“I was six years old in 1980 and my mother took me to the voting booth,” Gill says. “I remember you saying, ‘Ally, no one here can tell me what to say.'” This moment, he says, ignited his belief in the power of civic engagement and advocacy.

Years later, his time in the Navy would strengthen this drive. “When I tried to report the assault, I was interrogated as if I were guilty. “They asked me what I was wearing, if I drank and if I was flirting,” she recalls. “They even threatened to accuse me of adultery because my rapist was married. “This experience made me realize that the pursuit of justice is a challenge not only for me, but for many women in the military.”

Gill’s story was featured in ‘The Invisible War’ (2012), an Oscar-nominated documentary that brought widespread attention to the issue of sexual assault in the military.

“This movie was a turning point,” he says. “I realized I wasn’t alone and it wasn’t my fault. “Those three words – ‘you are not alone’ – are more powerful than ‘I love you’.”

When asked why he recalls such painful memories, Gill answers candidly: “I’ve seen how powerful it is when people tell their own stories. “Being a part of the Invisible War in 2012 showed me that storytelling can lead to policy changes and help others feel seen.”

He continues: “I felt compelled to do this because I knew the risks. If Trump is re-elected, female soldiers serving in banned states will fall into a trap. They deserve better. They deserve options.”

Gill’s work has not gone unnoticed. In 2022, she published an op-ed in The Washington Post calling for immediate policy changes to allow service members seeking reproductive care.

Just months later, the Pentagon enacted its proposed policy. “‘Did they read my article?’ “I remember thinking,” he says. “When I spoke to Ron Klain and Doug Emhoff at the White House, they knew who I was. “It was a moment that reaffirmed why I do this job.”

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