An abortion rights rally was held at the New Hampshire State House after a teacher’s controversial firing.
At a New Hampshire rally on the anniversary of the Dobbs decision that overturned the abortion protections of Roe V. Wade, advocates condemned the controversial firing of a teacher in Amherst.
The teacher, who worked at the Regional Services and Education Center, a special needs school, was accused of taking a student for abortion services.
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The school would not share details of the alleged incident with NBC10 Boston, but said all parents were notified.
"I feel for any student who's put in a situation where they have to make big decisions about their health care and don't feel like they can turn to their parents," said Sarah Sadowski of Concord.
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More on abortion
At a packed reproductive rights event in Concord Monday, many spoke out in favor of the teacher, saying she was put in a tough situation.
"I feel like the teacher was just doing what they felt, as a human, and putting their job at risk," said Maryrose Wainaina. "As a student, you go to your teachers cause you trust them.
"That's way above her pay grade, to begin with, and a student should not be in that situation," added Sriyam Rimal. "There needs to be a better support system."
A report from the New Hampshire Department of Education says the teacher admitted to faking a sick day to take the student to have a medical procedure. It also says the teacher assured she spoke to the student for more than two weeks about options and finding a safe facility.
The state's education commissioner, Frank Edelbut, sounded the alarm in an op-ed earlier this year, referring to the teacher's alleged behavior in the incident.
Counter-protesters at Monday evening's pro-choice event in Concord also sounded off.
"The teacher should not be involved with them, taking those kids to those clinics," said Margaret Svedsen. "Medical procedures? You can't give a kid an aspirin in school, and yet you can take them to have an abortion, which may have complications, and not tell a parent? No."
"I think the teacher should be fired, and I don't think she should ever get a job again," continued Svedsen, who held an anti-abortion sign.
Documents shared by the Department of Education show the teacher's license and certification are valid pending the results of the investigation. That teacher's identity has not been revealed.
