Thousands of people gather in downtown Ottawa Thursday for the March for Life anti-abortion rally, an annual march but the first since a leaked US Supreme Court draft decision that breathed new life into to the anti-abortion movement.
That initial draft opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito and published by the news outlet Politico, suggests that most US justices are prepared to overturn Roe v. the issue to state legislatures.
Access to abortion has also been an issue in the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, with all candidates except Leslyn Lewis indicating that they are pro-abortion or that they would not introduce legislation on abortion as prime minister. Since the US court opinion was leaked, the federal government has announced million dollars in funding initiatives says it will improve access to abortion services and reproductive health information in Canada.
The March for Life anti-abortion march has been held in the Canadian capital for 25 years on the anniversary of the day Omnibus Bill C-150 was passed in Canada in 1969, decriminalizing contraception and allowing abortion in certain circumstances, according to their website
Counter-protesters also gathered in downtown Ottawa, holding a sign reading “Abortion is Health Care.”
This is what some of the protesters on both sides had to say.
lucia fortier
“I love, I love everyone. I love people who choose the pro-choice side, I love their babies and my heart breaks for them because I’m sure it’s not an easy decision for them to have an abortion and I just want people to know that… there is a choice. You can have your baby, you can get help. You can even have your baby adopted, there are a lot of people who, you know, want to adopt.”
“I realized that the pro-choice people are closer. I remember walking down the streets and they would be in one section and now I realize they are across the street.”
“I just read that Mr. Trudeau was giving 3.5 million dollars more to the side in favor of abortion, I think that’s wrong. I believe it. I just find that life begins at conception, I think it’s a life, It’s growing, it’s alive, it’s not dead. Give it a try.”
Karyann Alix
“I think it’s different because, for now, the United States was like a place where abortion was normal. Like everyone could have it except for some states. But this year, with all the judges who want to erase the right of women to take our own decision about our body and anything that’s in our body. I think that’s why this year is different.”
“We still have to fight for our rights. As we see, there are many people who are against women’s rights. That’s why we are here. And we still have to fight. And many women and men think that in Canada, abortion is like something that’s going to stay but if you go back 10 years or so when Stephen Harper was there he talked about taking away abortion rights so we never know if someone in power wants their rights back for women’s rights, still We have to fight for it.”
chris bergsma
“We are only showing up to support the unprotected in the womb. I think they need a voice. Just what we see every day in our country, the hundreds of children who are innocently slaughtered. So we’re here to support you, protect you, and hopefully bring about change.”
“I think it helps, like we’re making progress. I think in America you see change, progress, so I think over time we’re going to keep making progress as long as we keep dating.” To these, keep talking.”
“We are peaceful protesters, we are only here to support life, we are not here against women, we are here for women. We would like to support women if they need help with their children.”
Alexandra Arraiz
“I came out to show my solidarity with all those who defend the reproductive rights of all Canadians and all the people of the world.
I do not wait [the protest] be too dramatic actually, so I’ll join the people who moved into the Parliament building, and we’ll just make our presence known, our voice will be heard.
Faye Latham
“I feel that life is so precious and we are only destroying innocent children. We adopted a boy from Bulgaria. He is now 30 years old and has also given birth. But I am very grateful that his mother chose to bring him to life.” … I met people who had seven, eight, nine abortions and his mother did not abort him. So, I feel very strongly that, as a grandmother now, I want to defend life.”
“My heart goes out to these young people who are just screaming and angry. And they’re not. I was here when Roe v. Wade became law. And I hope it gets overturned. It’s about time.”
Reference-www.cbc.ca