Rallying for Roe in Chicago

January 28, 2010

CHICAGO--Forty activists turned out in support of abortion rights at a lunchtime rally on January 22 in recognition of the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade--the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S.

Called by the Chicago Abortion Fund--an organization helps to provide low-income women with safe abortion services--activists at the spirited rally spoke of the need to rebuild the fight for abortion rights in the face of continued attacks.

Other attendees, including members of Medical Students for Choice, the Illinois Choice Action Team, the Chicago Women's Health Center and the International Socialist Organization chanted "Two, four, six, eight--abortion rights in every state," and "Ho ho, hey hey--abortion is going to stay legal today." Signs read: "Trust women and girls," "Make choice possible" and "Don't like abortion? Don't have one."

Several rally participants spoke out against the Stupak and Nelson Amendments, provisions in pending health care "reform" legislation that would prohibit insurers that participate in the health insurance exchange established by "reform" legislation from offering coverage of abortions. Others spoke about the fact that despite being "legal" in theory, the cost of abortion often puts the procedure all but out of the reach for many low-income women.

Liz Roberts, a member of Med Students for Choice, said that she had witnessed a patient who was denied Medicaid coverage for an abortion because it was deemed "medically unnecessary." The woman subsequently drank bleach in an effort to induce an abortion--at which point it was deemed "necessary" and Medicaid paid for the procedure.

"It's sad that women have to be dying to bring attention" to the lack of access to abortion, said Meena Chelvakumar, also a member of Med Students for Choice. She added that although the numbers of doctors who are willing to perform abortions has been declining, receiving training in how to perform abortions actually makes med students better doctors in the long run.

"Don't get relaxed," Chicago Abortion Fund organizer Dashaya Craig told the crowd. "We need Roe to stay legal...I'm looking forward to it getting to its 50th birthday!"

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