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Panel discusses abortion on Roe vs. Wade anniversary
Shira Kantor
- Staff Reporter
Twenty-eight years after the landmark decision to legalize abortion in the United States, Minnesota citizens are still split on abortion issues.
On the anniversary Monday of Roe vs. Wade, four speakers addressed safety, education and the accessibility of abortion at a panel discussion in Moos Tower.
Meanwhile, thousands of protestors rallied on the front steps of the State Capitol against current abortion legislation.
The University Coalition for Choice and Health Students for Choice sponsored the panel of abortion-rights supporters which 40 people attended.
"We're celebrating not only the hard work and ... sacrifices that were necessary to get to this point, but also the fervor and fearlessness with which we're going to protect Roe vs. Wade and reproductive freedom," said Nikki Moore, a UCC member.
The UCC aims to encourage activism, raise awareness on clinic violence, legislative issues, reproductive freedom and create a voice for abortion-rights supporters on campus.
One effort to spread awareness was headed off when banners which read, "Thank you Roe v. Wade" were taken down after UCC members hung them on the bridge over Washington Avenue at Coffman Union.
"They were probably only up for an hour before someone took them down," Rachel Grippen, a UCC member said.
Abortion rights panel
Speakers from various backgrounds shared personal stories at the panel as well as medical advice and religious considerations with the audience.
Rebecca Heltzer, a Minneapolis attorney, spoke about her experience last summer when her partner was denied access to an abortion.
Heltzer's partner was in her 19th week of pregnancy when complications caused hemorrhaging and landed her in a Twin Cities' hospital.
"She said to the doctor, 'I don't want to die here, I don't want to bleed to death. If I have to have an abortion that's what I want to do.'
"When the word came out of her mouth -- abortion -- a noticeable pall came over the room," Heltzer said.
Heltzer and her partner were then told that abortions were not performed at the hospital, and that instead the doctor would have to perform a hysterectomy.
Another abortion-rights activist at the panel, Dr. Mildred Hansen, addressed the issue of illegal abortion and the problems women face when they are denied abortion services.
"I want to make sure that none of you ever forget that women died of illegal abortions prior to Roe vs. Wade," Hansen said.
Hansen showed slides of death certificates of women who died either as a result of illegal abortions or suicide because they couldn't find anyone to perform their abortions. She also showed a photo from the Hennepin County coroner's office of a woman who died after hemorrhaging during an illegal abortion.
"I'm sure that if all of you searched the skeletons in your closet closely enough, you would see somewhere an (illegal) abortion death."
Other issues discussed at the panel included the abortion drug RU-486, the role religion plays in abortion decisions and pro-choice legislation.
The Minnesota chapter of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League works in conjunction with the UCC and helped organize the speaker panel.
"It's just all about the next generation of pro-choice leaders," said Mari Bonthuis, MN NARAL political organizer.
"There's a lot of pro-choice people on this campus," Moore said, "especially young women. But they don't know each other exists."
Following the panel UCC showed the movie "If These Walls Could Talk."
At the Capitol
Members of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life and other protesters from across the state gathered at the Capitol to push for abortion restrictions.
Proposed legislation would require women to wait 24 hours, receive medical information and disclose their doctors' names bfore having an abortion.
Gov. Jesse Ventura vetoed a similar bill last session.
MCCL also wants to restrict government funding for organizations that either perform or refer women for abortions through a constitutional amendment on the 2002 ballot in order to bypass an expected veto by the Governor.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Shira Kantor welcomes comments at skantor@daily.umn.edu
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