Katy-area students opposing the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade held a pro-choice rally, called Katy Fights Back, July 13 at Katy Harvest Plaza.

A crowd estimated at about 100 came to hear speakers on a warm, breezy evening. Most in attendance were young women and students.

Three of the organizers who were there are high school students. Taryn Hozdic and McKenna Franco will be seniors this fall at Jordan High School. Logan McLean will be a senior at Cinco Ranch High School.

Hozdic said they’ve been paying attention to the news about the court’s actions.

“We don’t have the privilege of not paying attention,” Hozdic said. “McKenna and I are friends with each other and we wanted to start something in response.”

Hozdic said she received a note from McLean and another organizer who wanted to get involved. It was important that the response happen in Katy.

“It’s a little challenging to do it without an organization, but we wanted to do it in Katy where we live,” Hozdic said.

Franco said while the evening was very hot—“That’s Texas for you,” she said—she was happy with the people who came to the rally. Many of the students attending were ages 14-18, Franco said, and it’s important that they get up and speak out for what they believe in.

McLean was also pleased with the turnout.

“I’m really proud of our Katy community for coming out,” McLean said.

Hozdic said she respected those with pro-life views.

“I think they are 100% justified in their own opinions, but just because they believe that doesn’t mean I have to believe that,” Hozdic said. “We’re supposed to live in a free country and that comes with freedom of religion. I’ve seen a lot of pro-life movements based on religions.”

Hozdic said she didn’t know whether she would get an abortion if she found herself in that situation, but she believed everyone should have the right to choose.

Franco said an abortion was not a black-or-white matter. She said pro-life advocates tend to see abortion as “you do it or you don’t” situation, but the decision to terminate a pregnancy—for whatever reason—is a difficult one.

McLean said she has seen pro-life advocates talk about when does life begin.

“I want to tell them, that doesn’t matter, the woman has a right to choose in their body regardless of when life begins,” McLean said. “We should respect that choice and always have that choice open.”

Maria Luna, who will be a senior at Jordan High School this fall, was one of the speakers. She described the rally as an eye-opening experience. She said hearing other women and men speak about their experiences gave her more of a picture of what’s happening. The issue is worth fighting for, she said. Everyone has their own beliefs, and that’s OK, she said.

“Please don’t put your beliefs on my body,” Luna said. “Please don’t try to make me be like you or believe in the things like you. Let me do what I think is right with my own body.”

Luna said she felt conversations about these topics should take place in both junior high and high schools. These topics are important to young people, she said. To have those conversations at such young ages encourages young people to speak their truths, she said.