A third rally to encourage people to vote “no” on the Kansas constitutional amendment on abortion will take place from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, in the Barton County Courthouse Square.

Allie Cartwright said the “Save Reproductive Rights in Kansas Rally” will start in front of the Jack Kilby statue on the west side of the courthouse. People are invited to bring signs and join the gathering. After the first hour they will move to the band shell for “positive and informative speakers,” she said. “We’re going to be presenting a lot of facts and stories.”

Scheduled speakers are Cartwright, League of Women Voters of Barton County/Great Bend President Janice Walker, and state representative candidate JoAnn Roth. Others may share their personal experiences but don’t want their names in print because of the personal nature of their stories, Cartwright said. “We have a wide variety of experiences that will be shared.” 

The first rally back on June 29 was peaceful but focused on chants and signs. Cartwright attended and expressed interest in having more rallies with an informative aspect.

“The first rally was a gut reaction to Roe v Wade being repealed and everyone wanted to get that off their chest,” she said. “After the first one, I said I’d like to do some more.”

Brittany Taylor agreed and the second rally, on July 9, included a diverse representation with speeches from an older person, a trans person and a binary person, Cartwright said.

For the July 27 rally, “I will be presenting facts on the current abortion regulations and what the amendment says and what it could do.”

The Kansas weather will dictate how Wednesday’s rally proceeds. A heat advisory has been in effect for much of the month but July 27 temperatures may be in the 90s and there’s a chance of rain. Cartwright said the group may alternate between chants/marches around the courthouse square to silently holding their signs up for passersby to see.