Roe v. Wade decision recalled on anniversary

Sunday, January 23, 2005

Activists on both sides of the abortion issue marched in demonstrations across the country Saturday to mark the 32nd anniversary of the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal. The anniversary came amid speculation that retirements on the Supreme Court could alter its makeup and its long-standing defense of the Roe v. Wade decision during President Bush's second term. Chief Justice William Rehnquist is 80 and suffering from thyroid cancer. In San Francisco, thousands of pro-life supporters marched on the city's waterfront, chanting slogans like "Women deserve better," while pro-choice supporters tried to drown them out with their own rallying cries. Pro-life backers carrying American flags and signs reading "Parental Rights" and "Choose Life" also marched on the state capitol in Austin, Texas, where Republican Gov. Rick Perry pledged support for a bill requiring a minor to get her parents' consent for an abortion. Sarah Wheat, spokeswoman for NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, said her group opposes a parental consent law because it would not have a huge impact on the abortion rate.

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