The overturning of Roe v. Wade is transforming the conversation around abortion rights, with some businesses taking a side in the debate.

Abortions are banned or restricted in 18 states. While that right remains protected in New York, the reversal of the 50-year-old precedent pushed a bookstore in Rhinebeck to get involved.

Oblong Books has a display to spark a conversation and make a statement, featuring books on the fight to protect abortion rights in America, and what a lack of abortion access does to communities of color.

“We’ve definitely become more politically active in an outward way,” said Suzanna Hermans, owner of Oblong Books. “We’ve seen a lot of our rights disappearing and a lot of scary things happening in our country.”

Oblong Books is a family business that’s been in Rhinebeck for more than 20 years. Hermans says it was devastating to see Roe overturned.

"Abortion is certainly a personal issue for so many of us that have uteruses. We spend our whole life trying to either not get pregnant or get pregnant,” Hermans said. "Then when that right is taken away, it is extremely upsetting. So we thought, ‘we’re a bookstore, we can help provide information.’ And we found some wonderful books to help people educate themselves about why it is important to have the right to an abortion.”

Hermans says the reaction from customers for the most part has been positive, although they have received some criticism from people who oppose abortion.

Maureen Haege is with a volunteer group called DutchessNY4Life. She hasn’t seen the display at the bookstore, but says she’s disappointed.

“I think everything is becoming political in our society today,” Haege said. “So it’s unfortunate to see that even bookstores are doing that, and not offering or at least displaying items that are showing both sides.”

Hermans understands why some customers may not agree with the display. That’s not stopping her from engaging the community on a topic she’s very passionate about.

“Since we are an independent business, I am the owner and I do get to decide what we stock here in our store,” Hermans said. “So I will carry the books that I feel our customers are interested in, the books that I feel are important. And, for folks who disagree, that’s OK. It’s OK, you can disagree, don’t have an abortion, that’s fine. It’s when you start to take those rights away from others that it’s not OK anymore.”

Hermans says her display changes throughout the year depending on what’s happening in the country. There are no plans to take the current display down just yet. She says she’ll continue to stock books about abortion rights and will not show the other side.