FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: MIRA WEINSTEIN, 202-628-8669 x705

NOW CELEBRATES LANDMARK ROE V. WADE DECISION; ORGANIZES NATIONWIDE AGAINST ANTI-ABORTION VIOLENCE, LEGISLATION

January 20, 1998

Twenty-five years after the U.S. Supreme Court recognized women's right to abortion, the National Organization for Women celebrates the protection of that decision for women's health and lives. With actions across the country, NOW activists will also call for stronger efforts to guarantee women's ability to exercise their constitutional right.

"Just about every woman of my generation knows -- or knew -- someone who had an illegal abortion before 1973. The lucky ones can tell you first hand about the night-and-day difference Roe has made in women's lives," said NOW President Patricia Ireland.

"We are grateful for that change, but for many women, Roe v. Wade is a hollow guarantee due to anti-abortion majorities in Congress and many state legislatures and anti-abortion violence in the streets," Ireland said.

"Through a campaign of blockades, murder, arson, firebombing and intimidation, the anti-abortion terrorists try to do what they could not do legally: prevent women from getting an abortion," Ireland added. NOW's landmark class-action lawsuit NOW v. Scheidler alleges a nationwide conspiracy of violence designed to deny women their right to abortion. The lawsuit, which seeks a nationwide injunction against these activities and triple damages for affected clinics, goes to trial March 2.

Ireland cited legislative restrictions on abortion rights:

• Poor women's abortion rights are limited by the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal Medicaid funds for abortion.
• Millions of women do not have access to abortion because of additional bans on federal funding. These bans apply to health coverage for federal employees, including military service members, and their families, among others.
• Many young women face parental involvement laws which restrict their abortion rights.
• Women who need pre- and post-viability abortions face bans on D&X abortion -- without exceptions for women's health.

"NOW activists have been in the forefront of the struggle for abortion rights and reproductive freedom. We will continue to fight until no woman has to choose between the rock and the hard place -- a back-alley abortion or continuing a unwanted pregnancy," Ireland said.

Here is a sample of the events planned by NOW activists around the country to mark the 25th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Arkansas

• Northwest Arkansas NOW will sponsor their annual candle light vigil at the courthouse on January 22 at 5:30 pm. Contact: Karin Wiggins 501-443-3184.

California

• North Orange County NOW is organizing a candlelight vigil in the City of Orange on January 22, 1998. Speakers include Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and Dr. Martin Roitman, a local abortion provider. Contact: Darcelle L. Foster

• San Francisco NOW and other pro-choice organizations will sponsor a rally on January 22 at 5:30 pm at the corner of 24th and Mission. At 6:30 pm, there will be a candlelight vigil in the Green Room of the War Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness (at Grove St.) Contact: Stacey Karp 415-861-8960.

• UC Davis NOW will cover the campus with wire hangers with captions about abortion rights. A candlelight vigil is tentative. Contact: Hoa (pronounced "Wa") Doan 916-750-2951.

Connecticut

• Connecticut NOW and state pro-choice coalition members will announce new guidelines for endorsement as a "pro-choice" candidate. Contact: Jessica Stevens 860-524-5978.

District of Columbia

• Capital City NOW will host its annual candlelight vigil at the Supreme Court on January 22 at 6:30 pm. Featured speaker is NOW President Patricia Ireland. Contact: Hannah Olannoff 202-638-0929 day or 202-543-4577 evening.

Florida

• Indian River County NOW is having a candlelight vigil on January 22. Contact: Gloria Wood 561-234-8896.

Illinois

• Springfield NOW will conduct a postcard drive targeted at legislators, encouraging them to support abortion rights. The chapter will also participate in informational tabling events in the community. Contact: Susan Bramlet-Lavin 217-546-8643.

Indiana

• Bloomington NOW will join other abortion rights groups to display mock headstones representing people who have died from illegal abortions or at the hands of anti-abortion terrorists. The cemetery display will begin at 12 Noon at Dunn Meadow. Activists will also lead a march from Dunn Meadow to the Courthouse, beginning at 4:30 pm. Contact: Amy Ikerd 812-339-7770.

Kentucky

• Bluegrass NOW, the local Planned Parenthood affiliate and the University of Kentucky ACLU chapter will co-sponsor a speak out, screening of HBO film "If These Walls Could Talk" and discussion on January 22 at 6:30 pm at Lexington Public Library, 140 E. Main St. Contact: Robin Showalter 606-293-1819.

• Jefferson County NOW and the local pro-choice coalition will present a commemorative program of 25 people who will speak out about their personal experiences before Roe v. Wade. 4 pm, Capitol Rotunda, January 21. Contact: Laura McCrea 502-584-8276.

Maryland

• Baltimore NOW is organizing a 25-candle celebration on January 22 at 5:30 pm at the Mitchell Court House, 100 Block of North Calvert St. (at Fayette). Contact: Christine Brodak 410-516-8696.

Massachusetts

• Greater Boston NOW and Massachusetts Coalition for Choice will present speakers and a free concert at Faneuil Hall on January 22, at 5:30 pm. Speakers include Gov. Paul Cellucci. Contact: Greater Boston NOW 617-232-1017.

Nebraska

• Lincoln NOW will sponsor a press conference in the Rotunda of the State Capitol and a silent protest at the scheduled anti-abortion march. Contact: Kay Siebler 402-479-6242.

New York

• Brooklyn NOW will co-sponsor a protest in front of the Empire State Building, which houses the offices of the Promise Keepers and NY Right to Life, on January 24 at 12 Noon. Contact: Shirley Ranz 718-769-8901.

• Central New York NOW's president, Vivian Derrickson, will speak at Syracuse University on January 22 at 7:30 pm. She will announce the chapter's new "Coat Hanger Award" to a local HMO that does not provide contraception for Medicaid patients. Contact: Vivian Derrickson 315-449-2715 day or 315-475-8773 evening.

• Ulster County NOW will host a demonstration and vigil with other abortion-rights groups on January 22 at 12 Noon at Kingston Hospital. Contact: Carol Urban 914-688-2169.

• On January 22 at 6:45 pm at the YWCA, Westchester County NOW and a coalition of women's groups will sponsor a candlelight vigil and memorial service for women who have died from illegal abortion. The Y is located at 515 North St., White Plains. Speakers include Rep. Nita Lowey, state legislators and a woman who had a D&X abortion. Contact: Luba Fineson 914-834-6264.

Ohio

• Akron NOW is planning a rally in downtown Akron on January 22 at 5 pm. Contact: Shelley McConnell 330-785-0844.

• Columbus NOW's rally will take place at the statehouse on January 22 at 12 Noon. The event is co-sponsored by 15 local organizations and Oberlin Area NOW. Contact: Susan Bader 614-895-7136.

Utah

• Salt Lake City NOW, Utah NOW and other coalition members will hold a candle light reception and film screening to honor local abortion rights activists on January 21 at 6 pm at the Salt Lake Acting Company. Contact: Deb Cohen or Bev Cooper 801-328-8939.

Virginia

• Tidewater NOW will conduct a speak out and candlelight vigil at the YWCA, 253 W. Free Mason St., Norfolk on January 20 at 7 pm. Contact: Mary Roberson 757-456-1509.

Wisconsin

• Milwaukee NOW will host a film and discussion event. Contact: Jennifer Olencheck 414-276-3468.

Link to this release at http://www.now.org/press/01-98/01-20-98.html