“Abortion is something a woman is taking away from her body. It is a woman who is doing something for her body and she knows what these situations are… so it is for a woman to say and decide, not a man,” Dona Bidoni, leading a troupe of performers at Central Park, said on what is emerging as a major issue in the US elections this time.
Two years ago, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the ‘Roe Vs Wade’ judgment, leading to 22 states bringing in bans on abortion. The campaign of Kamala Harris revolves around claiming that Trump was the ‘architect’ of that Supreme Court decision, and that the former US President will bring in a federal ban on abortion if he occupies power again. This seems to be rallying the women voters, who are over half of the population of the US, in the favour of Harris.
“Abortion it is a woman’s decision… already because of the laws which have been enacted, there are women who have suffered because of it, and died. Caring about lives is important,” says Jean, a senior citizen, sitting on a bench in Central Park. She is pointing to reported instances in the US of minors being forced to give birth, and a rush of women with pregnancy deliveries stretching the medical facilities in states where a ban on abortion has come in since 2022.
Yearning for first Woman President
American women also seem to be yearning for the first woman president of the country, saying the time has come.
“I will vote for Kamala because she is a woman. It is time for us to stand up together and help each other out and vote for a woman who can represent our ideas and our thoughts and who we are,” says Bidoni. Showing how tight the fight is, all her four women band members, however, say they will vote for Trump.
“We like his philosophy, he is the best option for this country. The better choice is Donald Trump as he will make America great again. Trump will do it, Harris can’t,” the four say.
Jean, however, says Kamala is her choice because she respects her. “I don’t respect Trump or appreciate his views… I will be very upset if he wins,” she says.
At Times Square, a black couple says they will also back Harris. “It is Harris a 100%… we tried Trump and he was nonsense. He never spoke about the issues. I like Harris, she will make history. If we get back Trump, he will give us war,” says the husband. His wife says US was ready for a black man in Barack Obama as President, so the country is ready for a woman too. “Men don’t like women in power or in-charge — that is the biggest part,” the couple told CNN-News18.
Malisa, a woman waiting in a queue for Broadway tickets, said the race was very tight. “I know who I am voting for… and why I am not voting for the other person. Up to a month ago, I though Republicans will win but now Democrats are back in the race with Kamala, especially after the debate — the cats and dogs eating stuff that Trump said made no sense,” Malisa said.
Ronnie, a young man from Texas taking a walk in Central Park, also said it was obvious that US was ready for a woman president. “Harris is not a selfish person… [she] thinks of others. Trump is too self-involved,” Jules told CNN-News18.
Economy An Issue
Inflation and economy are making many in New York speak favourably of Trump. Jules, a guitar player in Central Park, and his friend Mark who is an employee at Central Park, are divided on their political choices. While Jules backs Harris, Mark interjects to speak of the rising grocery prices.
“Everything is expensive. Economy is very bad, the border is another problem. Trump is the better choice; it was better with Trump in the past. People do not have money to afford simple and basic things anymore, it is a nightmare right now,” Mark told CNN-News18.
Moosa, a rickshaw driver-cum-guide at Central Park, also said people are not happy with illegal immigration as lot of things are being given for free to such immigrants. “Last time I voted for Democrats but this time I will vote for Trump. You see the country, it is a mess. I’m myself a legal immigrant and we need Trump back. I don’t think US is ready for a woman to be president,” he said.
Ronnie, however, says people are paying more attention to Harris. “Trump got attention after he got shot. But no longer. It has never happened earlier — a woman president. It wasn’t Hillary Clinton, but it maybe Kamala Harris,” he says.
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