Rally for women in Montpelier - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-

Rally for women in Montpelier

Men and women from around the state gathered in Montpelier to fight what's been called 'the war on women'. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders let out this battle cry, "we have made significant progress in this country and the message of today is we are not going backwards!"

Senator Sanders told the women of Vermont he's ready to start a war, but he needs women to man the front lines. "Vermont will be remembered as the state that led this country toward gender equality and the rights of all people, that is our mission and that is a goal in which we will succeed" Sanders said.

Sanders spoke at the women unite rally on the capitol steps Saturday. Every state in the nation held a rally to fight back against what's been deemed 'the war on women' by politicians. Former Governor Madeline Kunin said "I never thought that I would be speaking out in 2012 for the right to have access to contraception." Kunin thanked Rush Limbaugh, oddly enough, for bringing women to activism. The talk show host infamously called law school student Sandra Fluke a prostitute and a slut for supporting women's access to contraception. "Rush Limbaugh helped ignite this debate and Sandra Fluke had the courage to fight back" Kunin said. The former governor says Vermonters are lucky because the state enjoys an equal rights mentality -- unlike our 'sisters' as she calls them in other states. She told the women "we have to speak out not only for us but for them because the future, not only of Vermont, but of this country is at stake."

Planned Parenthood gave out voter registration sheets at the event because organizers say women need to be heard in November. "You have a voice you can do this you do not have to let anybody else speak up for you" event organizer, Erin Nary said. "Silence is a decision, the decision not to speak, that has been the traditional posture of women throughout history" Kunin said.

Organizers spent the day encouraging women to supercede stereotypes and make history by taking it into their own hands.