An NIU student group and various community members are determined to send a message to national legislators supporting a woman’s right to a legal abortion.

The Feminist Front, headed by Julie Stege, has organized a bus trip to Washington, D.C., to take part in the March for Women’s Equality/Women’s Lives on April 9. In addition, a local pro-choice group is sponsoring a petition drive.

“Women will not docilely go back to an era of compulsory pregnancy or to ‘back alleys’ to risk their lives in order to save their futures,” Stege said.

The march, organized by the National Organization of Women, was originally intended to be a push for the Equal Rights Amendment, but the pro-choice emphasis was later added when the U.S. Supreme Court decided to re-evaluate Roe v. Wade, the 1973 court case legalizing abortion, next month.

Stege agreed that the march is a measure against the massive anti-abortion demonstrations across the country. NOW describes the purpose of the event as showing “the country that we who support keeping abortion and birth control safe and legal are the overwhelming majority. Thousands will march to send an unmistakable message to the nation that women will not go backwards.”

She said if abortion were outlawed, illegal agencies would take over the practice and thousands of women would die from “botched” abortions. Stege said in countries where abortion is illegal, such as Nicaragua, the largest contributor to the female mortality rate is “back alley” or unsafe abortions.

Another organization involved with pro-choice measures is the Chicago-based National Abortion Rights Action League.

This organization’s branches around the country and in DeKalb are currently operating a nationwide petition drive to show national legislators that the majority of people support the right to abortion.

She said petitions were originally given to 15 key people, who in turn copied the petitions and circulated them. Pottenger expects hundreds of signatures from the DeKalb area because community response has been so strong.

“I’m feeling really good about the number of signatures,” she said.

Other NARAL members made contributions to the Feminist Front bus fund to help send others to Washington because they are unable to go.

Stege stated the importance of the march in a fact sheet, “The right wing’s attack on women—until now a nuisance by a fanatical minority seeking to impose its moral views on the majority—has now gained the full support of the Bush Administration and of the Justice Department.”

The march has attracted many women, “The march seems to be a real resurgence of feminism on the grassroots level,” Stege said.