Monday, January 24 marked the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) held a vigil commemorating the decision, and we AAUW fellows decided to go show our support. We knew that an annual anti-choice rally was happening that day, but we could not have prepared for the magnitude of what we were about to experience. As we emerged from the Metro at the National Mall, we found ourselves standing in a sea of thousands of anti-choice school groups and churches.
We found the RCRC vigil in front of the Supreme Court and quickly bonded with the diverse group of people who were there to stand up for women’s health in the midst of a rally where we were clearly in the minority. While we stood there in solidarity with our AAUW pro-choice signs, making our presence known to the anti-choicers, we were approached by a variety of people (some peaceful, some not) and surrounded by two large religious groups who started praying at us. We both look back in awe at the sheer intensity of that moment, a moment unlike anything either of us had ever experienced. As the crowd continued chanting, we began singing “We Shall Overcome” as a peaceful and comforting response to what seemed more like judgment than prayer.
The vigil closed on a positive note when we came together around Rev. Carlton W. Veazey, RCRC’s president and CEO, who spoke movingly about standing up for reproductive rights. During the vigil, Veazey was incredibly patient with everyone who approached him to discuss his views. This demonstrated to us the kind of peaceful and persuasive confidence that we should all aspire to when confronting divisive issues.
We left with a feeling of community and accomplishment. We were amazed at the connection we felt with others in the intensity of this moment and the invigorating sense that we came together to support women everywhere.
With the recent onslaught of threats to women’s health in Congress, we are grateful for the strength and sense of purpose our experience at the vigil will allow us to bring to our work at AAUW. More than ever, we feel fortunate to be at an organization committed to ensuring that women have control over their own lives.
This post was written by AAUW Public Policy and Government Relations Fellows Shirley Kailas and Sarah McDermott.
AAUW Dialog 
Thank you for respectfully representing the pro-choice movement! It’s not easy to react to judgement and anger with a calm sense of purpose, but it is necessary to engage in productive dialog. Bravo, and please keep up the excellent work!
Benjamin,
Until contraception is readily available anywhere in the world without stigma and easily affordable in the poorest countries of the world; when no man is any longer motivated to rape any woman; when there are no more incestuous attacks on young daughters, nieces, cousins, or sisters; when society provides loving and excellent medical and emotional free care and support for special needs children; when all people are willing to adopt and raise in a loving, financially sound home any child facing physical, emotional or intellectual challenges; when husbands joyfully undergo vasectomy when a wife feels unable to bear a child; when cultures arounds the world embrace children, fund daycare, offer free medical services, provide quality education, educate young women to reaar healthy, happy children by themselves – only then will I say that reproductive freedom is murder.
@Benjamin
It’s so easy to dismiss reproductive freedom when you’ll never have to make that choice.
Thank you for bravely being present at the rally, fellows.
Thank you AAUW for supporting women’s choice and Roe v Wade. It takes courage to face a hostile minority. Remember that nation-wide choice IS the majority.
Thank you AAUW Fellows and the RCRC for being there. I never want to go back to revisit the times of finding women in pools of blood because they thought they had not other options. I need to be reminded about “peaceful and persuasive confidence”.
Not anti-choice but pro-life.
Not reproductive freedom but murder.