'We Won't Go Back - March For Our Rights' Takes Place In Montco Friday

TOWAMENCIN, PA — Area residents protesting the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will be out and about in this Montgomery County town on Friday evening to call for awareness about women's rights.

The event, titled 'We Won't Go Back - March For Our Rights,' is scheduled to take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. along the Towamencin Pedestrian Bridge.

The scheduled two-hour program is designed to bring about awareness with regard to pro-choice policies and women's health in response to the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to return abortion issue to the respective states.

In a recent decision, the high court ruled that Roe v. Wade, which constitutionally guaranteed a right to an abortion nationwide, was wrongly decided 50 years ago.

The overturning of Roe sparked anger and protests nationwide.

Friday's program in Towamencin is in response to local outrage over the court ruling.

"When the Roe decision came down on Friday, I felt overwhelming rage," Jenn Foster, a Harleysville resident who helped to organize the march, told Patch. "A right, given to women nearly 50 years ago, was stripped away by 6 Justices with the stroke of a pen."

Foster said she organized Friday's march to show solidarity with "all the women out there that will be impacted by this decision — A woman who was raped. A child who was the victim of incest. A woman has to choose between chemotherapy and a pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy. A miscarriage that won't pass on its own. And any woman who has to make the choice, no matter what the reason, to terminate a pregnancy."

Foster stressed that being pro-choice doesn't necessarily mean being pro-abortion.

"For me, being pro-choice means having a strong belief in a woman's right to reproductive freedom," she said. "This decision changes the fabric of our country, and the Court will not stop there. I am turning my anger into action. First, we march; next we vote."

Those interested in attending the march are being asked to park their vehicles behind the office building at 1690 Sumneytown Pike in Lansdale.

Participants are encouraged to bring any homemade signs with them as they march across the bridge.

Meanwhile, a team of Pennsylvania legislators announced that they are planning to introduce a bill that would codify Roe v. Wade into law here in the Keystone State.

An actual bill has not yet been introduced, as the language for the proposal is still being ironed out, but the lawmakers said they hope the measure would be coming out sometime in the near future.