Pro-choice activists picket abortion foes
BY TIM LENNOX
BOSTON--Chanting, "What do we want? Abortion rights. When do we want them? Now!" and "Not the church, not the state, women must decide their fate," 50 defenders of a woman's right to choose formed a gauntlet that some 2,000 abortion foes had to pass as they marched in the 14th annual "Respect Life Walk" on October 1.
The countermobilization was organized by the Abortion Access Project. The protesters' signs not only defended abortion rights, they also explained the consequences for women when abortion is illegal. They read, "80,000 women die from illegal abortions worldwide each year" and "Over 200,000 women died from illegal abortions before Roe v. Wade."
In an interview with the Boston Herald, Cardinal Bernard Law, Catholic archbishop of Boston, reflected the gloom that hung over the antiabortion forces--that was evident at their rally--since the decision earlier in the week by the Food and Drug Administration to approve the use of RU-486, an abortion pill. "It has changed the landscape. It makes abortion accessible in a new way. It's rather chilling," Law, who later spoke to the rally, said.
In contrast, the overwhelmingly young pro-choice picket line was fired up. More than 30 of the participants came from Simmons College, a predominately women's school here. They were organized by the Feminist Union. Holly, a sophomore at Simmons College and a member of the Feminist Union, explained, "We need to be out here defending our rights. If they take that away, what's next?" Students from Boston University also participated.
Students at Simmons College plan to hold a send-off rally for participants in the "World March of Women," which will be held in Washington on October 15.
Tim Lennox is a member of Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees.
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