Abortion opponents rallied in Washington yesterday to mark the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade amid concerns they could face political setbacks under the new president.
Among those attending the rally and march to the Supreme Court was Kirk Kramer of Cottage City, Md., who held up a sign reading: "The Audacity Of Hope: No More Roe."
Kramer, a Democrat, said he has mixed feelings about President Barack Obama. He supports the president's position on Iraq but said he was concerned about statements Obama made during the campaign indicating support for the Freedom of Choice Act, which would overrule many state-level restrictions on access to abortion.
"Love always finds a way. There's a way we can find for every pregnant woman to have a child or give it up for adoption," he said.
Obama, who did not attend the rally, issued a statement yesterday saying the government "should not intrude on our most private family matters" and reaffirming his support for abortion rights.
Obama says everyone needs to work to prevent unintended pregnancies.
Barbara Schaedel of Midlothian attended the march yesterday, riding on a bus that departed from St. Gabriel Catholic Church.
She has attended every march because "I have three children, I've seen the sonograms. To me, [a fetus] is a human life," she said.
The size of this rally differed from previous ones, Schaedel said.
"I've been doing this since 1975, and I've never seen so many people here. Going down Constitution Avenue was completely full all the way," she said.
The rally stretched for about three blocks on the National Mall and included many young people.
A small group of abortion-rights supporters also gathered at the Supreme Court yesterday.
"We know there will be efforts to undermine a woman's right to make personal health decisions," said Courtney E. Jones, grass-roots organizer for Virginia League for Planned Parenthood. But "we believe that the American people . . . are ready to put the divisive politics of the past behind them."
A driver rammed his SUV into the front door of an abortion clinic in St. Paul, Minn., yesterday. No one was injured.
A 32-year-old man was arrested and taken to Ramsey County jail on suspicion of aggravated assault, police spokesman Peter Panos said. Panos said police were trying to confirm his name.
The clinic's front door sustained minor damage.
Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Kathi Di Nicola said the man got out of the SUV and was pacing around. "He was agitated, and he was saying, 'Shut down this Auschwitz.'"
Staff writer Robin Farmer contributed to this report.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement