Approximately three hundred individuals from across the state gathered Saturday morning near the James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Building in Jefferson City for a march to a rally at the Capitol in support of women’s rights.

State Representative Stephen Webber (D) and current candidate in the 46th Legislative District.

State Representative Stephen Webber (D) made a brief speech at the rally:

Representative Stephen Webber (D): Welcome to central Missouri. Glad to have so many progressives in Jefferson City today. [laughter][cheers]

I’m glad that Courtney [Cole] mentioned this started on Facebook because I read something on Facebook that really sums up this march for me today. Somebody had one of those signs that said, don’t ask someone for equal rights, as if your rights are theirs to give to you. [voice: “Yeah.”] [applause][cheers] We’re not asking for anything today. We’re here to stake claim to the human rights that already are ours. [voice: “Right.”] [cheers] [applause] We’re not asking that people like Peggy [Cochran], that people like our mothers and sisters and wives and daughters be paid equal pay for equal work. We’re saying that’s the way it’s gonna be. [voice: “Yeah.”] [voice: “Right.”][cheers][applause] We’re not asking that women have the ability to go get medical advice from their doctor without politicians in this building standing in the way.  We’re saying that when women go get health care they should be able to leave their copy of the Missouri Revised Statutes at home because rights to health care are the same rights as citizenship. [cheers] [applause] We’re not asking for equal rights for women. We’re saying that when God gave man rights he gave women rights at the same time. Now put the damn amendment in the Constitution. [cheers] [applause] And we’re not asking that women have equal opportunities to work and that when they do work that they have, we’re not asking for an ability to have a harassment free workplace, we’re saying that’s the way it’s gonna be. And God help you if you try to stop that. [voices: “Yeah.”][cheers] [applause]

I just want to say one last thing. The war on women is a war on ourselves. [voice: “That’s right.”][applause]….

No one in attendance was in any mood to ask for that which was already theirs.

Previously:

Rebecca McClanahan 4/28/2012 Unite Against the War on Women Jefferson City (May 1, 2012)

Peggy Cochran 4/28/2012 – Unite Against the War on Women – Jefferson City (May 1, 2012)

Senator Ken Jacob speaks at Unite Against the War on Women in Jefferson City (May 1, 2012)

Missouri – Unite Against the War on Women – Jefferson City march and rally – photos, part 3 (April 29, 2012)

Missouri – Unite Against the War on Women – Jefferson City march and rally – photos, part 2 (April 28, 2012)

Missouri – Unite Against the War on Women – Jefferson City march and rally – photos (April 28, 2012)

Unite Against the War on Women – march and rally in Jefferson City – April 28, 2012 (April 21, 2012)

We Are Women March 4.28.12 – Susan Montee (D) and Courtney Cole (D) (April 19, 2012)