By: Winston Wei

Redi Degefa, a woman who lives in Washington, DC, and works as a staff member in Congress, came to a Saturday morning rally on June 24th, 2023, to represent young women in the anti-abortion community. As a Catholic, she carried a sign that read, “Pray the rosary to end abortion.”

Degefa talked about celebrating the anniversary of overturning Roe during the rally.

“It is both a celebration and also a reminder that, like, we have to keep up this energy, the energy that we’ve kept up the past 50 years — we have to double it now and keep going,” Degefa said. “It’s never going to be a win until abortion is abolished in all 50 states.”

According to Shawn Carney, the President, and Chief Executive of 40 Days for Life, June 24 marks an important day for people against abortion. Carney’s organization was the co-sponsor of a Dobbs anniversary rally where people gathered Saturday morning to hear Mike Pence and Alveda King, Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece.

“The work for life goes on all across America,” Pence said.

The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling of 2022 eliminated the right to abortion nationally and allowed the states to make their own decision. This ruling also scrambled things related to abortion; for example, it started new debates about abortion pills, contraception, and miscarriage care. After the ruling, legal abortion fell by more than 6 percent within the first six months, according to the Women’s Health Organization.

People in favor of abortion also rallied support at events across the country, especially in Democratic states like California and New York, although there were also rallies in Florida.

Abortion is a big, controversial issue, and both sides make efforts in rallies and protests. However, with Roe v Wade overturned, people supporting anti-abortion are celebrating.