Leslie Jones Taps Into Our Collective Anger Over the Alabama Abortion Ban

On the season finale of Saturday Night Live, Leslie Jones delivered a powerful and blisteringly funny rant on Alabama’s abortion ban and the disturbing trend of draconian abortion laws that are currently sweeping the Southern states. Jones, an always welcome Weekend Update staple, brought righteous anger and frustration to her monologue, which taps into the emotions that many of us are feeling right now.

Jones came out dressed as a handmaiden, before removing her bonnet and red cape to reveal a t-shirt with “mine” written on it and an arrow pointing downward. Jones then put up a picture of the Alabama republicans who voted for the ban, describing the men as “the casting call for a Lipitor commercial” and “the mugshots of everyone arrested at a massage parlor.” Jones then declared, “you can’t control women because, I don’t know if y’all heard, but women are the same as humans.”

Jones went on to skewer the senators in an incisive and powerful rant that also took on Alabama’s female governor Kay Ivey, who signed the bill into law. She then stated what we all know to be true: “when women have a choice, women have freedom,” which was met with cheers and applause by the audience.

If you’re a woman (or a person who loves women) then you’ve experienced a roller coaster of emotions this past week. You only need to listen to the folks around you (or on Twitter) and see that many of us are struggling with anger, frustration, fear, and hopelessness. We’re upset because these bans are all building towards one devastating threat: the overturn of Roe v. Wade. This is why we cried on election night in 2016. This is why we were devastated by the confirmations of Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. We knew this was coming, and now our very personhood is under threat.

This fear is what made Jones’s rant such a cathartic release. Because finally someone with a platform is embodying our anger and fear with comedy and clarity. Jones did not mince words in her declaration, and she didn’t tiptoe around it with political jargon. Sometimes it’s easy to forget how powerful a nakedly angry woman speaking the truth really is.

And despite the disturbing events of the past week, Jones ended her rant on a note of optimism and support. “And if you’re a woman out there, and you feel scared or confused, just know that you’re not alone. There’s so many women out there that got your back, especially me, Leslie ‘Dracarys That Bitch’ Jones. You can’t tell me what to do with my body. You can’t make me small or put me in a box. I’m 6 feet tall and 233 pounds. Ain’t no box big enough to hold me.”

Thanks Leslie Jones, for giving voice to our emotions and for sharing a wickedly funny message of hope.

(image: NBC)

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