Photo by: Jessica Sanchez
Women and men, parents, children, adolescents and college students crowded the streets bearing posters with phrases such as, “If you cut off my reproductive freedom, can I cut off yours?” and, “Keep your rosaries off my ovaries.”
Such was the scene on Sunday, April 25, when over one million pro-choice activists, including a number of DU students, set out for the March on Washington.
Jessica Sanchez, a member of DU NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League), said that her experience participating in the march was simply amazing.
“The energy, passion, excitement, and courage were all on high that day. It was very empowering to be in a safe environment-to be able to speak your mind. It was definitely the face of democracy,” she said.
According to Sanchez, pro-choice means that women should have complete power over their own health and reproductive decisions.
“It means believing women should be given proper information, adequate health care, access to birth control, and the power to make decisions about their bodies. Most importantly, pro-choice means that a woman’s body is not public property and should not be dictated by the government,”she stated, adding that each individual should be able to make decisions that fit his or her own life.
Some of those who participated in the march claim that President Bush’s conservative policies are damaging to women’s rights. In November of 2003, President Bush signed the Partial Birth Abortion Ban, the first ban in history of this medical procedure, a move which some say is inching him toward making abortion illegal.
According to Charlie Smith, Chairman of the DU College Republicans, President Bush has repeatedly stated that he will not pursue the abolishment of abortion, contrary to popular belief.
“It is the task of Congress to pass laws…and should they pass them President Bush will sign them,” said Smith.
Zarah Brown, another DU student who marched, holds that Bush’s actions on issues such as abortion and gay marriage are based on his religion, “and push America toward a future where some people are less equal than others.
These both contradict the spirit and the letter of the Constitution.”
Conversely, Smith challenges anyone to show him where in the Constitution the right of abortion is stated explicitly.
“Of course women have the right to choice,” said Smith, “That choice occurs the moment they choose to interact sexually with another…I do not believe that women have the right to end the life of an unborn child.”
However, the purpose of Sunday’s March on Washington went beyond the topic of abortion. It also addressed a number of other issues that may concern women.
These issues include adequate health care, accurate sex education, access to birth control, and family planning for women, regardless of their social demographic.
The 2004 March on Washington was first of its kind in twelve years. It was a collaborative effort among seven national women’s rights groups: The American Civil Liberties Union, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Feminist majority, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Latina Institute for Reproductive health, National Organization for Women, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Andrew Remstad, a member of DU FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), found it surprising that the pro-choice March on Washington has received such publicity, when there was much less coverage of the pro-life rally, the March for Life, in January. Remstad added that over two hundred thousand people, many of them college students, have spent four days rallying in the nation’s capital every January since the decision of Roe vs. Wade was made thirty-one years ago in 1973.
“As an activist I feel that this march was just a reward for all of the work I do daily to ensure my rights as a women are never infringed upon,” said Hannah Seigel, a DU student who marched, and a member of the Undergraduate Women’s Council. “[It is] important to remember…that just marching is not enough. We all need to continue to fight for the causes we believe in each and every day,” said Seigel. “Seeing all of the women who devote themselves to feminism and change was a meaningful experience that I will never forget.”
