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CLOUDY Temp: 45 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, February 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 23, 2003 Anniversary rekindles debate over abortion By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune What have been annual events in Medford protesting and supporting abortion rights took on greater importance this year with an anti-abortion president and a conservative Congress. Several hundred people assembled in Alba Park Wednesday to speak out against abortion on the 30-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion. "Thank you for coming down to stand for the unborn and the sanctity of life," said Gayle Atteberry, executive director of the Oregon Right to life in Salem, to the crowd. "In D.C., there’s a group celebrating the anniversary by serving cake and punch." But, she said, "the day that authored the death of 40 million unborn children" was not a cake-and-punch day. The annual Medford rally, sponsored by Jackson County Right to Life and supported by the students of Cascade Christian High School, featured music, prayers and speeches from organizers. From Medford to Salem to Washington, D.C., events supported and opposed the landmark court decision. Abortion rights activists rallied in Medford Tuesday night. "My class organized and set up the (school’s) first abortion rally," said Jessica Trimmer, 21, a Ruch resident and Cascade Christian High School graduate. "Since then it’s become a senior tradition." Calling abortion "murder," Trimmer said no matter the circumstances, she doesn’t see abortion as an alternative, unless it comes down to a medical decision because a woman’s life is at risk. She said she’d like to see more support of options, such as homes for unwed mothers, to make alternatives easier and more available. Trimmer said the current federal administration gives her hope. "I feel like the times are changing and the future is looking better for saving lives." Chris Hillis, who teaches history and English at Cascade Christian High School, said the school informally supports the rally, and about half the student body came. He said he hoped the event would cause people to think about abortion, which is a "lifelong decision." "It’s not just a ‘medical procedure’; it does stop a beating heart," he said. There was a moment of vocal opposition at the rally when a man drove around the block yelling from his car window. But those at the event guessed he had mistaken it for a peace rally because he was yelling, "Remember Pearl Harbor!" Some passers-by disagreed with the rally’s supporters. "I feel for the unwanted children and the children born into poverty," said Diana Keith, 41, Ashland. "Nobody’s waving a banner for them." She said if abortion were made illegal, those hardest hit would be women with fewer financial resources and there would be even more children among the poor and homeless. Making abortion illegal is "no real solution," she said. She said our society can hardly keep up with taking care of the people we have. "It’s too bad they don’t direct their effort to those who are here." On Tuesday, local supporters of the Supreme Court decision showed up to hear musicians and speakers at the First Methodist Church on Main Street in Medford at 6 p.m. The event was sponsored by Planned Parenthood and the Pro-Choice Coalition of Oregon. "There is a threat to women," said Kellie Shoemaker, of Medford’s Planned Parenthood office, in a telephone interview from Salem. "We are one Supreme Court justice away from overturning (the decision)." She estimated 100 people turned up for the Medford event in support of the court decision, and about 75 for an anniversary celebration Wednesday at the state Capitol with Gov. Ted Kulongoski. She said she would like to see both sides work together to provide access to contraceptives and comprehensive, medically accurate sex education. She said the common ground is that both sides would like to see the number of abortions decline. "We’d all like to prevent the need for someone to be in that situation." Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S