Rebecca Danis (SFS ‘06) and Kristina Gupta (CAS ‘05) would not normally find themselves at the same protest. On Sunday, however, they took opposing sides at the March for Women’s Lives.
Several hundred thousand protesters, some of whom came from as far as Washington State and Alaska, marched on the National mall, where a rally featured celebrity speakers such as Whoopi Goldberg, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Cybill Shepard.
Danis’ day began when she met with 20 Georgetown students, as well as several anti-abortion activists from other area Universities. “I went to the march because, as a pro-life woman, I felt it was important to bear witness that being Pro-woman and Pro-life are not polar opposites,” she said.
Danis, President of GU Right to Life, held a sign that read “Women need love, not abortion” and joined in silent protest with about 200 other anti-abortion attendees. Despite the relatively peaceful presence of anti-abortion supporters, the reactions they received varied.
“One person screamed at the Right to Life girls ‘I hope you all get raped,’” she said, “which did not strike me as a very pro-woman thing to say at a March for Women’s lives.” She also said that she was displayed the middle finger repeatedly, and was called racist, sexist and bigoted.
Not all of the reactions to anti-abortion presence, however, were negative. “Some of my friends were in the March for Women’s lives, and they smiled and waved at me,” Danis said. “That was encouraging.”
A theme of empowerment sometimes helped to unify the opposing sides. “When I saw women holding up signs that said ‘Stop Violence Against Women, which, obviously, I agree with, I gave them the peace sign and they smiled and returned it,” she said.
Kristina Gupta, a member of H*yas for Choice, was one of 150 abortion-rights Georgetown students, co-sponsored by the College Democrats.
Gupta said the event was significant so soon before the presidential elections. “This event is so important because it sends a clear message to the President, the Congress and the Courts that we will not stand idly by while our rights are eroded. We are ready to vote in November,” she said.
The mood for the abortion-rights marchers remained positive, despite the overcast skies and the counter-demonstrators. “The atmosphere was wonderful-everyone was happy and pumped,” said Gupta, “Try to imagine one million people together in harmony, all laughing and talking.”
Gupta remained unfazed by the anti-abortion attendees. “There were very few pro-life protesters. Considering they have been mobilizing to come to the march since it was announced in June, I wonder if it is a telling sign that there were so few of them,” she said.
Despite opposing political stances, both Danis and Gupta agreed that the march will not soon be forgotten. “It was an experience unlike any other we have had,” Danis said. “It was compelling to see so many people together, firmly and vocally committed to reproductive freedom,”Gupta agreed.
