The March for Life rally took place on Friday in Washington D.C., with the event’s tone seemingly different, as many see participants see that their goal of restricting abortion access in the U.S. finally happening, including potentially overturning Roe V. Wade.
NBC News reports that thousands gathered for the demonstration and walked to the Supreme Court, which has, in recent months, permitted states like Mississippi and Texas to severely limit the timeframe for abortions. The rally took place the day before the 49th anniversary of the historical 1973 Roe case, where the Supreme Court ruled that women have a constitutional right to an abortion. Turnout was lower than expected due to COVID-19 and vaccination requirements.
On Saturday, Joe Biden tweeted about the Roe case, writing, “The constitutional right established in Roe v. Wade 49 years ago today is under assault as never before. We must recommit to strengthening access to reproductive care, defending the right established by Roe, and protecting the freedom of all people to build their own future.”
Kamala Harris also discussed the issue in a video posted to Twitter.
The mood at the rally was apparently buoyant, with Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund telling the crowd, “we are hoping and praying that this year, 2022, will bring a historic change for life.” She continued, “If Roe falls, the battle lines will change, but make no mistake the fight for life will need to continue in the states and here in D.C.”
However, abortion rights are being rolled back in Mississippi, where the court said that pregnant women can’t have an abortion after 15 weeks, in a case that goes against Roe. Texas has also been at the forefront of the attack on abortion access: back in September, a law was passed that prohibits abortions when a fetal heart rate is detected, which is typically around six weeks, a time when some women don’t realize they’re pregnant. If Roe is overturned, at least 26 states could fall victim to stricter abortion laws.
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