The 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade today gave rise to opposing emotions for student groups across the University’s campus. While some planned a trip to protest at the nation’s Capitol, others saw the day as a moment of achieved equality.
This year, several University students opposing abortion rights took their annual pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. to march from the National Mall to the Supreme Court.
Finance sophomore Shellie Pergola, women’s resource officer of Students for Life, has attended the March for Life multiple times.
“We want to make our voice heard for all the government with our presence and as a witness,” Pergola said.
Abortion rights advocates commemorate this date as a valuable gain, according to Neva Butkus, political science senior.
She said the court case has greater implications on how society views women.
“It’s a reminder for me and women everywhere, that we are equals and we should be treated as equals, not based upon your sex,” Butkus said.
Mass communication freshman and Students for Life member David Scotton’s life was saved from abortion and is currently working with Louisiana Right to Life to produce a documentary telling his story and meeting his birth parents for the first time.
“My birth mother was in the clinic and pro-lifers convinced her to save me,” Scotton said.
He has also made the trek to Washington and said he was inspired by the number of youth in attendance.
“It’s reassuring to see this generation so confident working together to end abortion. At some point, you start to doubt yourself, and you go to the march and you see all these people. It builds your confidence, and it’s a really great feeling,” Scotton said.
The march is not only a call to lawmakers for more anti-abortion legislation, but also a tribute to the 55 million lives lost to abortion, Pergola said.
“It’s a time when you remember the lives lost — 55 million since Roe v. Wade. That is the content, focus, reminder and passion to what we do,” Scotton said.
Jeanne Monahan, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, wrote in a news release, “The March for Life is a demonstration of unity that we need to continue the fight to win over the hearts and minds of all Americans.”
Pergola said she is looking forward to the aftermath of the march.
“I want to see if our government hears our voice — to know what our senators and representatives are doing to truly represent our cause,” Pergola said.
The cause is particularly represented in Louisiana.
Louisiana is the most pro-life state in the country, according to the report “Defending Life: A State-by-State Legal Guide to Abortion, Bioethics and the End of Life” by Americans United for Life.
Even though Roe v. Wade has not been overturned, Pergola and Scotton both said there have been some gains in pro-life legislation, such as the Heartbeat Bill and an abortion ban after 20 weeks.
“I know it’s going to take a long time. And some may say it’s minimal, but it’s some gain. With these minimal gains, we will end abortion,” Scotton said.
Elaine Maccio, associate professor of social work and women’s and gender studies, said in an email the anniversary is about reflection and progress.
“This is about reminding us of where we’ve been, how far we’ve come and why we don’t want to go back,” Maccio said.
Maccio called any potential interference in the physician-patient relationship “nothing more than an attempt at control.”
The landmark court case has not only opened several doors for women, but has withstood both liberal and conservative eras, Butkus said.
“Any attempt to interfere in the physician-patient relationship is nothing more than attempt at control, plain and simple,” Maccio said.
Butkus said she hopes this anniversary convinces people that the Supreme Court decision is permanent and neither the government nor other people should be able to dictate an individual’s personal choice.
“It’s a reminder for me and women everywhere. That we are equals and we should be treated as equals not based upon your sex.”
