By Ali Morris
Staff Writer

On April 24, the Women’s Resource Center will send a bus to Washington D.C., to participate in the “March for Women’s Lives.” As a nationwide event, pro-choice abortion supporters from all over the country will join together to march two miles, starting at the Washington Monument. Participants of the march hope to preserve the ability to make personal heath care decisions free from government interference, specifically concerning reproductive rights. Over 10 million people are expected to be participating, with approximately 4,000 of them coming from Maine.

As one of the most controversial political issues of our generation, abortion rights continue to be a subject worth debating. Abortion became legal with the 1974 court decision of Roe v. Wade. Yet, over time, conservative authorities have tried to overturn the decision. Negotiation over the matter has been difficult, since anti-abortion advocates and pro-choice supporters tend to be equally as passionate on their positions.

The Bates Women’s Resource Center (WRC) has been placed in charge of organizing, with students Adrienne Eaton and Kaitlyn McKechnie co-coordinating the event. According to Eaton, “students on campus expressed an interest in going and the WRC took it as their duty to organize it.” While 35 students have already signed up, there is still much more room available on the bus. The plan is to leave Saturday night, drive overnight, march during the day, and then drive back again over Sunday night in order to be on campus for Monday’s Short Term classes.

Those who are unable to participate can “sponsor a student to go,” says Professor Meredith Greer. Greer has also been involved in the organization efforts and adds that “sponsoring a student to go is just paying some of the money to help reduce their bus fare. The WRC is working on sponsorships to keep costs down for individuals.” That way, you can still show your support if you are unable to attend.
Laura Harper, the Planned Parenthood New England March Organizer, replied that many other colleges plan on busing students to the event as well. “USM has over 40 students on a bus Colby has one bus, and Bowdoin has almost two buses completely filled. High schools from around the area are also planning on going.”

Many students will be active in the event, and many college-aged people feel strongly about pro-choice rights. Due to the recent possibility of stronger regulation, people from all over the country have been expressing their concerns. Adrienne Eaton agreed and said, “Since there have been a lot of changes in the laws around reproductive freedom, the march was created to let the nation know that there are many people against them.”

As one of the largest demonstrations in history to support women’s reproductive freedom, there is no doubt that some sort of impact will be made.




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