The Group Action “Long Live Abortion” took place on Sunday, July 3rd at the foot of the Statue of Liberty in Paris in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reverse the (1973) Roe vs. Wade ruling that protected the right to abortion at a national level.
Following a call made on social networks, which was widely shared, more than 100 portraits of women, men and children were captured in just 24 hours. These portraits putting a face to people’s engagement towards the cause.
These portraits were then pasted, by the participants of the rally, on the pillars of the bridge overhanging the Île des Cygnes, facing the Statue of Liberty in Paris. Along the Seine river, on a popular walk for locals and tourists, this highly symbolic location gives this action visibility.
Photographer Amélie Mauger
In Parallel, a committed artistic program took place on the island around the Statue of Liberty with :
1) A display, at the feet of the Statue of Liberty, of Artworks proposed by more than 10 artists: Alex Cecchetti, Odonchimeg Davaadorj, Elsa and Johanna, Guerrilla Girls, Chourouk Hriech, Kubra Khademi, Prune Nourry, Agnès Thurnauer and Martha Wilson.
2) Over 15 readings, speeches and performances presented by :
- Josiane Asmane, Author
- Kathy Alliou, Curator
- Mourad Bouayad, dancer with Jeanne Holsteyn producer and activist as well as Claude Violante, composer
- Léa Chauvel-Levy, Author
- Melissa Chemam, Journalist
- Ghada Hatem, Gynecologist, Founder of the Maison des Femmes
- Guerrilla Girls, Artist Collective
- Julie Mamou-Mani, Producer, Author, Mamouz
- Desire Rebecca Moheb-Zandi, Artist
- Maroussia Rebecq and Red Social, Artists and Activists
- Hélène Strag, Author, Director
- Marcia Tiburi, Artist, Activist and Samantha Barroero, Curator
- Martha Wilson, Artist
Photographer Fred Grivois/ American artist Martha Wilson reading a text by Judith Butler on the fragility of women's rights.
Photographer Fred Grivois/ The team in front of the Statue of Liberty
Photographer Fred Grivois/ Mourad Bouayad, dancer with Jeanne Holsteyn producer and activist on a production by Claude Violante, composer