NOW Marks Roe v. Wade Anniversary Across the U.S.

While January 2009 will be most remembered for the inauguration of President Barack Obama, women's rights supporters remember another historic moment that took place on Jan. 22, 1973 -- the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

The National Organization for Women has been on the front lines of the fight for reproductive justice since its founding in 1966, and NOW activists have been fiercely defending Roe, one of the most critical legal decisions of our time, since it was issued 36 years ago.

Across the country, NOW activists are gearing up this week to welcome the 111th Congress and President Obama and to celebrate our right to make personal decisions about when and whether to begin or expand our families.

Like NOW members, Roe actions come in all beautiful shapes, sizes and colors:

• New York City NOW members are putting on a "get the facts and take action" panel called Raising Our Voices for Choice, and Rochester NOW will be hosting Bill Baird of the 1972 Eisenstadt v. Baird decision, which overturned laws banning contraception for unmarried people.
• In Washington, D.C., local NOW members and feminists from across the country will continue the Inaugural celebration by rallying at the U.S. Supreme Court and then spend the evening at a party where they will write letters to the Obama administration.
• In Alaska's winter weather, Mat-Su NOW and Mat-Su College Campus Affiliate will be celebrating Roe by hosting a retired member of the Alaska Supreme Court for an evening discussion.
• In the warmer weather in Florida, North Miami NOW is conducting a "Honk and Wave" to raise visibility for women's reproductive health, and Indian River NOW is marching to the County Courthouse.
• In Las Vegas, Nev., NOW members will be celebrating Roe in style at their "Rock for Roe" event held in conjunction with Planned Parenthood.
• In Mississippi, feminists are gathering for the "Lady Liberty Ball" in support of Roe.
• North Carolina NOW is holding its "Signature Event" again this year, collecting signatures for a newspaper ad that will be delivered to lawmakers. Also in North Carolina, Triad NOW will hold their annual Roe v. Wade rally outside of Planned Parenthood; Charlotte NOW is holding a pro-choice discussion event; and the Raleigh chapter is holding a discussion entitled "Is an Egg a Person?"

For more info on how to attend these events and many others, visit the NOW Facebook page.

So, let this January kick off a year of local actions. With so many reasons to celebrate recent victories and remember our past struggles, there's no reason to let the action stop. We need NOW grassroots activists to help pass the Freedom of Choice Act, to ensure women's health care needs are addressed in health care reform legislation, to hold our elected leaders accountable to protect and expand access to birth control and emergency contraception, and to make 2009 a powerful year in the struggle for reproductive justice for all women.

Please send short stories about your successful Roe v. Wade actions to Ali Rodway at chapfield@now.org. Don't forget to send along pictures and captions of your action!