BY MAGGIE PUCCI
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Supporters of abortion rights here held a series of events marking the 25th anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion and successfully defended an abortion clinic against antichoice forces.

A noontime speak-out on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court January 20 kicked off the week's activities. The event was organized by the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) and sponsored by some 23 other pro- abortion rights organizations, including the Coalition of Labor Union Women, National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and National Black Women's Health Project.

About 150 supporters of abortion rights gathered to hear speakers relate their experiences trying to obtain an abortion before and after the Roe v. Wade decision, and reaffirm the need to defend safe, legal abortion.

Tens of thousands of opponents of abortion gathered in DC for the annual "March for Life" on January 22, the actual anniversary of the landmark court decision.

As part of the activities surrounding the "March for Life," abortion opponents had announced they would attempt to shut down a clinic in Washington. In response, the Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force (WACDTF) announced clinic defense mobilizations January 22-24, beginning at 5:30 a.m. Training sessions were held the week before to prepare people in physical defense of the clinics. The one and only provocation came on the third day, when about 150 opponents of abortion approached the Circle Women's Clinic in the Dupont Circle area of the city.

"The mobilization of hundreds of pro-choice supporters willing to come out kept the clinic open," said Heather Amsden, President of WACDTF. Amsden said that about 350 supporters of abortion rights were mobilized at several area clinics that day. She also noted that this is the third year in a row that clinics in the D.C. area were kept open and all patients were seen. Police arrested 15 of those attempting to close the clinic.

There was also a counter-demonstration against the "March for Life" called by the group Refuse and Resist.

NARAL hosted a private luncheon January 22 attended by 1,000 people that heard a keynote address by U.S. vice president Albert Gore.

Touted as a pro-choice representative of the Democratic Clinton administration, Gore said the United States should "move toward the day when every pregnancy is a wanted pregnancy and every newborn baby is eagerly awaited by two loving, united parents." He called for pro- and antichoice forces to "work together on a common goal: reducing the number of abortions."

U.S. president William Clinton has also supported moves to limit access to abortion, saying he would sign a law banning a type of late-term abortion procedure if it allowed exceptions when a woman's health is in danger.

That evening, the Capital City chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) held an annual candlelight vigil. More than 100 people gathered at the U.S. Supreme Court in a spirited picket line demanding safe, accessible, and affordable abortions, while chanting, "Not the church, not the state, women will decide our fate."

Maggie Pucci is a member of the United Auto Workers in Baltimore.  
 
 
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