Many Ohio University students will flock to Washington, D.C., this weekend to demonstrate support for reproductive rights at the March for Women's Lives. It is planned to be the largest abortion rights gathering in American history.
The participants from around the world are assembling at the National Mall at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 25 before the march and reconvening for a rally following it. The march is sponsored by the collaboration of several organizations promoting women's rights, including NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Organization for Women and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
The march is designed to unite men and women from across the U.S. and the world to advance the right to choose
said ¥Heather Hintz, director of Health Services for Planned Parenthood of Southeast Ohio.
The March for Women's Lives is the first major abortion rights rally since 1992 when 750,000 people marched behind the banner We won't go back! We will fight back! The march upholds the values of choice access health
abortion
global and family planning
according to the joint Web site of the organizations.
A full bus of 48 is leaving Planned Parenthood, 280 E. State St., Sunday at 1 a.m. The majority of protesters are students, but also includes mothers and area residents.
Anti-abortion groups are expected to make an appearance in counter protest to the march, according to news releases from various anti-abortion Web sites.
If we should be allowed to march for our beliefs
they should be allowed to march for theirs
said Jaime Mendola, vice-president of the Pro-Life Club at OU. But if there is any protests going on against them they should be accepting of that.
Other delegations in Athens are carpooling, and many are staying the whole weekend to attend related events and rallies.
Sarah Fick, an OU alumna, is going with a group organized through the Wire, a free community resource center.
I want to make the small faction of radical feminists visible by putting my body there
she said.
The right to choose includes more than just the right to abortion - it includes the right to contraceptives and health care as well, Hintz said.
But, Mendola said the right to abortion does not guarantee healthcare rights.
Pro-choice is not necessarily a right to choose
Mendola said. Health care in certain universities don't provide enough options to you if you want the baby.
Kirk McLean, an OU senior attending the march, said the
current Bush administration is not giving women the rights they deserve.
It's basically saying that they aren't smart enough to make the decision and that they should just stay home and raise children
he said. It's giving into the white male power structure.
Marchers from OU expressed concern for the recent anti-abortion legislation Bush signed banning partial-birth abortion.
Under the current administration
