More than two dozen organizations are staging a “Rally to Save Roe” Thursday to commemorate the 44th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States.
Among the rally’s sponsors are the City of West Hollywood and its Women’s Advisory Board and the National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles.
The event is intended to demonstrate support for upholding the right to a legal and safe abortion as Donald Trump assumes the presidency on Jan. 20 and an overwhelmingly conservative Congress takes office. It will take place rom 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the NCJW|LA Council House, located at 543 N. Fairfax Ave., in Los Angeles.
The Rally to Save Roe event will begin in a gathering just outside of the NCJW|LA Council House building, so there will be no on-site parking. Parking enforcement in the immediate vicinity will be relaxed, but parking meters will still require payment and adherence to posted parking time limits. Participants are encouraged use alternative forms of transportation, or to carpool.
Speeches will begin at 6 p.m., and guest speakers will include:
• California State Senator Holly J. Mitchell;
• Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl;
• Juana Rosa Cavero, Executive Director, California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom;
• Hector Villagra, Executive Director, ACLU of Southern California, and
• Remy Holwick, leader of the feminist secret society called Grlcvlt NYC.
A costumed “Lady Liberty” will be at the Rally to Save Roe event, and some attendees will be wearing 1960s attire, holding up clothes hangers, and chanting “We won’t go back!”
Following the rally, at 7:30 p.m., there will be an advocacy training inside the NCJW|LA headquarters to provide participants with practical tools for channeling belief into action in their communities.
Co-Sponsoring organizations for the Rally to Save Roe event include: The ACLU of Southern California; the Anti-Defamation League; Black Women for Wellness; California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom; California Latinas for Reproductive Justice; California NOW; California Women’s Law Center, Congregation Kol Ami; Feminist Majority Foundation; Hollywood NOW; L.A. for Choice; City of Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Koretz; County of Los Angeles Supervisor Sheila Kuehl; NARAL Pro-Choice California; National Health Law Program; Planned Parenthood Los Angeles; Planned Parenthood Young Professionals; Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism; Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice; San Gabriel Valley NOW; Temple Israel of Hollywood; Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills; Together We Will, Los Angeles; and the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project; among others.
Roe v. Wade is the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, issued on January 22, 1973, that legalized abortion in the United States.
Nearly 20 years later, in 1991, the City of West Hollywood, through a vote of the city council, reaffirmed its commitment to women’s rights and became the first city in the nation to declare itself pro-choice.
More information is available online, or by contacting contact Larissa Fooks, the City of West Hollywood’s community events coordinator ,at (323) 848‐6413 or lfooks@weho.org. For people who are deaf or hearing impaired, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.
