Ruling That Gave Women Right to Abortion : Rallies to Mark Fateful Anniversary

The 12th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that gave women a constitutional right to abortion will be marked by pro- and anti-abortion rallies in Santa Ana and round-the-clock vigils at abortion clinics concerned about violent attacks.

The National Organization for Women will hold a walk and vigil at the Santa Ana Civic Center on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Wendy Lozano, coordinator of the South Coast chapter of NOW, said the march will be held “in memory of women who’ve died from illegal abortions.”

On Saturday, North Orange County NOW will be registering volunteer escorts at the Feminist Women’s Health Center in Santa Ana. Escorts are needed to protect the clinic’s clients from harassment, said NOW spokeswoman Beverly Wilcox.

Pro-Life Events

Pro-Life of Orange County will be holding two events at the Santa Ana Civic Center--a rally at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and a “March for Life” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

The march will be held in support of two anti-abortion protesters who were arrested in March, 1984, said Bev Cielnicky, a spokesman for Pro-Life of Orange County. It will start at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Westminster Avenue, near the Santa Ana Civic Center.

The Feminist Women’s Health Center in Santa Ana will be holding a vigil at the clinic, but final arrangements have not been made yet according to Lorraine Rothman, one of the center’s founders. The National Abortion Federation warned its 300 members to take precautions during the anniversary period after receiving a letter from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reminding clinics “to be aware of their security measures” at this time.

The National Organization for Women will be holding similar vigils at 20 to 30 abortion clinics across the country from Friday through Tuesday. Since 1982, there have been 30 attacks on family planning clinics and physicians’ offices nationwide.

The Supreme Court voted 7 to 2 on Jan. 22, 1973, to give women the “qualified” privilege to an abortion during the first six months of pregnancy. Based on the 14th Amendment “right to privacy,” it struck down anti-abortion laws in 43 states that outlawed abortions unless the mother’s life was in danger or the pregnancy resulted from rape or risked serious birth defects.

The decision banned restrictions on abortions during the first three months of pregnancy but allowed states to restrict abortions during the second and third trimesters.