West Hollywood Co-Hosts 'Rally To Save Roe' to Commemorate The 44th Anniversary Of Roe V. Wade

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA -- The city of West Hollywood and its Women's Advisory Board will join with the National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles and more than 25 co-sponsoring organizations in commemorating the 44th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States, with a "Rally to Save Roe."

The event, which will be a demonstration of support for upholding the right to a legal and safe abortion despite an uncertain political climate, will take place from from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the NCJW|LA Council House, located at 543 N. Fairfax Ave. The event will fall on the eve of the Presidential Inauguration on Friday.

The "Rally to Save Roe" event will begin in a gathering just outside of the NCJW|LA Council House building, so there will be no on-site parking. Parking enforcement in the immediate vicinity will be relaxed, but parking meters will still require payment and adherence to posted parking time limits. Participants are encouraged use alternative forms of transportation, or to carpool.
Speeches will begin at 6 p.m., and guest speakers will include:

• California State Senator Holly J. Mitchell;
• Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl;
• Juana Rosa Cavero, Executive Director, California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom;
• Hector Villagra, Executive Director, ACLU of Southern California; and
• Remy Holwick, leader of the feminist secret society called Grlcvlt NYC.

A costumed "Lady Liberty" will be at the Rally to Save Roe event, and some attendees will be wearing 1960s attire, holding up clothes hangers, and chanting "We won't go back!"

Following the rally, at 7:30 p.m., there will be an advocacy training inside the NCJW|LA headquarters to provide participants with practical tools for channeling belief into action in their communities.

Roe v. Wade was the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, issued on Jan. 22, 1973, that legalized abortion in the United States. Nearly 20 years later, in 1991, the city of West Hollywood, through a vote of the City Council, reaffirmed its commitment to women's rights and became the first city in the nation to declare itself pro-choice.

-- News Release from the city of West Hollywood. Patch file photo