WASHINGTON — Weathering below-freezing temperatures, dozens of abortion-rights activists celebrated the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade before the steps of the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Marching at first in a circle, with signs reading “Abortion on Demand and Without Apology” and “Keep Abortion Legal,” the participants chanted slogans such as: “Pro-life, that’s a lie! You don’t care if women die!”; “Two, four, six, eight, separate church and state!”; and “When you get pregnant let us know, pro-life men have got to go!”
A lone man bundled in a large bundled jacket off to the side of the chanters shouted back about the sanctity of life.
The activists gathered cheered Roe, but warned that their right to have an abortion remains under siege.
“I just have to say that people have been asleep. Pro-choice people have been fucking asleep and just because there is a Democrat in the White House does not mean abortion rights are safe,” Emma Kaplan with StopPatriarchy.org told The Daily Caller in the midst of the chanting and made reference to the slew of anti-abortion state legislation passed in recent years.
A Washington area Planned Parenthood volunteer attending the rally recalled era prior to the landmark court decision that set in stone a woman’s right to an abortion.
“I’m old enough that I remember before Roe v. Wade, when women had to go overseas or to strange back alleys to get abortions,” the volunteer told TheDC. “I don’t think there is any question that most people do not want other people making medical decisions for them.”
Shouting over a poorly functioning microphone, Allendra Letsome, the membership vice president for the National Organization for Women (NOW), spoke about the autonomy of women.
“For too long we have been captive to the mentality that what was given can be taken away,” Letsome said. “But the Roe decision was not a gift. It was a recognition of the inherent truth: that women of any reproductive age are capable of making their own decisions, and that states, nor the courts, nor the church should be able to circumvent that.”
“I am my own, and you don’t get a say,” she said, directing her words at Congress and the Supreme Court.
Kimberly Inez McGuire of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health spoke about the Latino community’s views on abortion.
“We stand with women on this issue today,” McGuire said. “Despite the persistent and unfortunate myth making around Latinos’ cultural, political, and religious beliefs, the data is clear our community is supportive and getting more supportive everyday.”
According to McGuire, the majority of Latinos are “pro-choice” and were “instrumental in getting pro-choice politicians” in office.
She urged that the “pro-choice” movement must grow to embrace more groups and voices.
The lone anti-abortion activist continued to shout about life throughout the speakers’ comments to the gathering.
Allison Stouffer, the vice president of DC NOW, spoke about the personal aspects of abortion.
“As a woman, the issue of choice is extremely personal to me and often evokes countless thoughts and feelings — from outrage to frustration — over the legislative attempts to reduce choices. …”
“It is painfully evident how the pro-life movement portrays our fight for reproductive resources. Their attacks are insular, shallow and offensive.”
“NOW affirms that women’s access to the full range of reproductive health services — including safe, legal and affordable abortion care and birth control — is integral to women’s ability to participate equally in our society,” Terry O’Neill, the president of NOW, said in an earlier statement announcing the rally.
“Roe v. Wade has helped improve women’s status in the U.S. and saved countless women’s lives,” she added.