Pro-choice advocates gathered this afternoon to mark the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision.
It was a landmark decision on abortion from the supreme court that resonates today. Joining the local celebration at La Bella restaurant, representatives of NOW- the National Organization of Women, the League of Women Voters, the American Civil Liberties Union and AAUW.
As they celebrated a woman's right to choose, they were concerned that 40 years later those rights are eroding.
"We understand this is a milestone in an ongoing struggle. Having the right and exercising the right are two different things for many women," said Susan Woodland, the president of the NWPA chapter of NOW. "Because at the state level, provisions of Roe v. Wade have been eroded but we're celebrating that it's still the law of the land, women still have a right to choose - it's a constitutional right and we're certainly going to do our utmost to protect it."
Lisa Baumgardner, President of the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union also told us she believes the rights have eroded some in 40 years. "As far as the ACLU is concerned, it's basically an issue of church and state," said Baumgardner, "because the biggest push toward not having reproductive freedom comes from the religious right."
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