Locals march on Washington, D.C. to support abortion

By: Sharlee Joy DiMenichi , Staff Writer 05/07/2004

50 Monroe residents march to support a woman's right to choose.

Fearing for women's lives, they couldn't sit still. So about 50 Monroe residents — many old enough to remember life before legal abortions — joined the March for Women's Lives in Washington, D.C., April 25.

Betty Kletter, of the League of Women Voters, who attended the demonstration with other league members, said concern about the Bush administration's anti-abortion stance and the possibility that it will force women to turn to unsafe illegal abortions brought her out.

"We feel that we're threatened. Our lives are threatened and the lives of our kids — especially the lives of our female kids — are being threatened by what's going on in Washington," Ms. Kletter said.

Ms. Kletter said she wished to express her support for preserving the rights ensured by the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion. In the decision, the Supreme Court held that denying access to abortion violates the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment mandates that before citizens or naturalized people can be deprived of life, liberty or property, due process of law — for instance a trial — must be granted. The court viewed preventing women from having abortions as depriving them of liberty without due process.

In the age of illegal abortions, women often inserted coat hangers into their wombs to end unwanted pregnancies and actress Whoopi Goldberg, a speaker at the rally, used a hanger to underscore her points, Ms. Kletter said. "Every time she raised that wire hanger everyone yelled, 'never again!' " Ms. Kletter said.

March organizers, which included the National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood, estimated that 1.15 million people participated in the demonstration, while CNN reported a crowd of "hundred of thousands."

Other marchers emphasized that the rally was aimed at securing women's freedom in all areas. "Choice is not limited to abortion rights," said Helene Hemnendinger, of Monroe, who marched with league members.

Being able to determine when and whether to have a baby gives women economic freedom, Ms. Hemnendinger said. "If you can control your body, you have the freedom to go out and work," Ms. Hemnendinger, a nurse, said.

Ms. Hemnendinger said young women have unprecedented career opportunities because of the activism of previous generations of women.

"The reason there are so many women doctors or lawyers today is because other women fought for it," Ms. Hemnendinger said.

The agitation of feminist activists led to legislation aimed at protecting females' access to universities and workplaces. In 1972, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act outlawed gender discrimination in hiring. In 1978, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act banned firing employees because they became pregnant.

Legislation protecting a pregnant woman's livelihood only goes so far and one marcher said he recognized that pregnancy could still create an unbearable situation for women. Harold Allen, of Monroe, who attended the march, said he wanted to ensure that women who might otherwise be crushed by the burden of pregnancy and motherhood have a way out.

"Certainly abortion is not a good thing, but sometimes it's the best of all evils," Mr. Allen said.

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