A Somber Three-Year Anniversary

April 25, 2007

Has it only been three years since more than a million of us took to the streets for reproductive justice? Knowing that access to abortion, birth control and reproductive health care was on the line, on April 25, 2004, 1.15 million women, men and children dropped everything else in their lives and marched on the Capitol in solidarity with women everywhere.

We knew that we were in precarious times, and we marched to show our commitment to change. And though we have had some victories, there have also been defeats. Just a few of the reproductive rights setbacks include:

• Bush's reelection to a second term
• The retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor from the Supreme Court
• The confirmation of John Roberts and Sam Alito, both staunch opponents of reproductive rights, to the Supreme Court
• Bush's signing of the federal abortion ban (surrounded, of course, by all male members of Congress)
• Multiple state abortion procedure bans
• Multiple attempts in states such as South Dakota to ban all abortions
• Last week's unprecedented decision by the Supreme Court to jettison Roe's health exception, roll back our established rights, and for the first time ever permit a ban on a medical procedure.

During the next two years, we expect continued assaults on reproductive rights as the right wing sees their grip on power slipping. Will we need to hit the streets again? Will we have a choice? Stay tuned.

The 2008 elections are our only hope to stop this erosion. We must elect a president who will steadfastly defend our rights and will appoint judges who respect women. We must elect a Senate that refuses to confirm any judge who does not commit to supporting our rights and a Congress that puts a stop to right wing attacks on our personal lives.

Were you there with us on April 25, 2004? Are you with us now?