Abortion in the District of Columbia is legal at all stages of pregnancy. In 1971, in United States v. Vuitch, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law saying abortion was allowed for health reasons, which include "psychological and physical well-being". Consequently, the District of Columbia became a destination for women seeking abortions starting that year.

The number of abortion clinics in the District has been declining in recent years, going from fourteen in 1982 to fifteen in 1992 to five in 2014. In 2017, there was only one Planned Parenthood clinic in the district offering abortion services. There were 2,790 legal abortions in the District in 2014 and 1,424 in 2015. The District is home to both pro-abortion rights and anti-abortion rights activism. On the pro-abortion rights side, Catholics for Choice and EMILY's List are based there. On the anti-abortion rights side, March for Life takes place annually protesting both the practice and legality of abortion on or around the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

History

Because of the nature of their abortion laws, New York City and the District of Columbia became destination centers for women in 1971 who were seeking legal abortions.[1] In 1980, the District of Columbia provided local funding for poor women who sought abortions. These funds covered around 85% of all women in the district seeking abortions. Federal funding was no longer available as a result of the Hyde Amendment. Local funding meant that despite decreases in legal abortions in 39 other states without local funding, the District of Columbia saw an increase in the number of legal abortions.[1]

Legislative history

A law in Washington, D.C., which allowed abortion to protect the life or health of the woman, was challenged in the Supreme Court in 1971 in United States v. Vuitch. The court upheld the law, deeming that "health" meant "psychological and physical well-being", essentially allowing abortion in Washington, D.C.[2]

Judicial history

The 1971 case United States v. Vuitch involving a woman from the District of Columbia ruled that abortion can be legally justifiable for the mental health of the pregnant woman.[1][3]

Clinic history

Number of abortion clinics in the District of Columbia by year

Between 1982 and 1992, the number of abortion clinics in the state increased by one, going from fourteen in 1982 to fifteen in 1992.[4] In 1996, the District had 18 abortion clinics and was one of only three to gain clinics in the period between 1992 and 1996.[5] In 2014, there were five abortion clinics in the District.[6][7] In 2017, there was one Planned Parenthood clinic, which offered abortion services, in an area with a population of 200,588 women aged 15–49.[8]

Statistics

In the period between 1972 and 1974, Texas and the District of Columbia had the highest illegal abortion deaths ratio and rates in the United States with rates of 62 and 21 deaths per million live births respectively. The deaths in the District of Columbia and New York in this period demonstrated that even where abortion is legal, women face circumstances that drive them to have irregular, non-physician assisted abortions.  There are a variety of factors for this including lack of education, poverty and distrust of the medical establishment.[9] In 1990, 93,000 women in the District faced the risk of an unintended pregnancy.[4] Based on the ratio of the number of women aged 15–44 years, in 2001, Idaho had the lowest rate of induced abortions at 3 per 1,000 women while the District of Columbia had the highest at 37 per 1,000.[10] In 2014, 70% of adults said in a poll by the Pew Research Center that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.[11]

Number of reported abortions, abortion rate and percentage change in rate by geographic region and state in 1992, 1995 and 1996[5]
Census division and stateNumberRate % change 1992–1996
199219951996199219951996
South Atlantic269,200261,990263,60025.924.624.7–5
Delaware5,7305,7904,09035.234.424.1–32
District of Columbia21,32021,09020,790138.4151.7154.512
Florida84,68087,50094,0503030327
Georgia39,68036,94037,3202421.221.1–12
Maryland31,26030,52031,31026.425.626.30
North Carolina36,18034,60033,55022.42120.2–10
South Carolina12,19011,0209,94014.212.911.6–19
Virginia35,02031,48029,94022.72018.9–16
West Virginia3,1403,0502,6107.77.66.6–14
Number, rate, and ratio of reported abortions, by reporting area of residence and occurrence and by percentage of abortions obtained by out-of-state residents, US CDC estimates
LocationResidenceOccurrence % obtained by

out-of-state residents

 YearRef
No.Rate^Ratio^^No.Rate^Ratio^^
District of Columbia1,4077.91482,79015.729355.62014[12]
District of Columbia1,4247.91491,2677132—2015[13]
District of Columbia — — — — — — — 2016 [14]
^number of abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44; ^^number of abortions per 1,000 live births


Abortion rights views and activities

Organizations

An advocacy organization called Catholics for Choice (CFC) was founded in 1973 to support the availability of abortion, stating that this position is compatible with Catholic teachings particularly with "primacy of conscience" and the importance of the laity in shaping church law.[15]

EMILY's List was founded in the District of Columbia in 1985. One of its goals was to try to support more female candidates that supported pro-abortion rights positions.[16]

Activities

In October 1984, CFC (then Catholics for a Free Choice) placed an advertisement, signed by over one hundred prominent Catholics, including nuns, in the New York Times. The advertisement, called A Catholic Statement on Pluralism and Abortion contested claims by the Church hierarchy that all Catholics opposed abortion rights, and said that "direct abortion ... can sometimes be a moral choice." The Holy See initiated disciplinary measures against some of the nuns who signed the statement, sparking controversy among American Catholics, and intra-Catholic conflict on the abortion issue remained news for at least two years in the United States.[17]

Protests

#StopTheBans was created in response to 6 states passing legislation in early 2019 that would almost completely outlaw abortion.  Women wanted to protest this activity as other state legislatures started to consider similar bans as part of a move to try to overturn Roe v. Wade.[18] Women from the District participated in marches supporting abortion rights as part of a #StoptheBans movement in May 2019.[19] The largest protest as part of #StopTheBans took place at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on May 21.[18][19] People in attendance included NARAL President Ilyse Hogue and Planned Parenthood President Dr. Leana Wen. Many women wore red, referencing women in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.[19]

Anti-abortion activities and views

Activities

Youth Rally and Mass at Verizon Center (2006)
Orthodox clergy and laity at the March for Life in 2012

The March for Life is an annual rally protesting both the practice and legality of abortion, held in Washington, D.C., on or around the anniversary of Roe v. Wade on January 22, a landmark decision issued in 1973 by the United States Supreme Court decriminalizing abortion. The march, whose stated mission is to "End abortion by uniting, educating, and mobilizing pro-life people in the public square", advocates for overturning Roe v. Wade.[20][21] The event typically draws tens of thousands of attendees.[22][23] The March for Life proceedings begin around noon.[24] They typically consist of a rally at the National Mall near Fourth Street (in 2018, this will be near 12th St. NW).[25] It is followed by a march which travels down Constitution Avenue NW, turns right at First Street NE, and then ends on the steps of the Supreme Court, where another rally is held. Many protesters start the day by delivering roses and lobbying members of Congress.[26] The first March for Life, which was founded by Nellie Gray, was held on January 22, 1974, on the West Steps of the Capitol, with an estimated 20,000[27] supporters in attendance. The march was originally intended to be a one-time event, in hopes that the Supreme Court would reverse Roe v. Wade immediately a year after its ruling. However, after the first march in 1974, Gray took steps to institute the rally as a yearly event until Roe v. Wade was overturned by incorporating more grassroots anti-abortion activists into the march, which would later be officially recognized as a nonprofit organization the same year.[28] During the 33rd annual March for Life in 2006, the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court caused a major shift for the movement, because of the expectation that Alito would "win Senate approval and join a majority in overturning Roe."[29]

On October 22, 2020, five anti-abortion protesters were arrested after forcing their way into a clinic in Washington, DC and blocking people from entering. They were convicted of violating federal law and face up to 11 years in prison.[30]

Violence

1984 saw a surge in attacks on abortion clinics in the United States with 6 arson attacks and 23 bomb attacks.  These attacks caused over US$4.3 million in damages in nine states and the District of Columbia.[31] An incident of anti-abortion violence occurred at an abortion clinic in Washington, D.C., on July 4, 1984.[31]

1985 saw a renewed high levels of attacks on abortion clinics in the United States with seventeen arson attacks and eleven bomb attacks.  These attacks caused over US$3.8 million in damages in nine states and the District of Columbia.[31]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Tyler, C. W. (1983). "The public health implications of abortion". Annual Review of Public Health. 4: 223–258. doi:10.1146/annurev.pu.04.050183.001255. ISSN 0163-7525. PMID 6860439.
  2. ↑ Kliff, Sarah (January 22, 2013). "CHARTS: How Roe v. Wade changed abortion rights". The Washington Post.
  3. ↑ "Timeline of Important Reproductive Freedom Cases Decided by the Supreme Court". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  4. 1 2 Arndorfer, Elizabeth; Michael, Jodi; Moskowitz, Laura; Grant, Juli A.; Siebel, Liza (December 1998). A State-By-State Review of Abortion and Reproductive Rights. DIANE Publishing. ISBN 9780788174810.
  5. 1 2 "Abortion Incidence and Services in the United States, 1995-1996". Guttmacher Institute. 2005-06-15. Retrieved 2019-06-02.
  6. ↑ Gould, Rebecca Harrington, Skye. "The number of abortion clinics in the US has plunged in the last decade — here's how many are in each state". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-05-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ Panetta, Grace; lee, Samantha (2018-08-04). "This is what could happen if Roe v. Wade fell". Business Insider (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2019-05-24. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  8. ↑ "Here's Where Women Have Less Access to Planned Parenthood". Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  9. ↑ Cates, Willard; Rochat, Roger (March 1976). "Illegal Abortions in the United States: 1972–1974". Family Planning Perspectives. 8 (2): 86–92. doi:10.2307/2133995. JSTOR 2133995. PMID 1269687.
  10. ↑ "Abortion Surveillance --- United States, 2001". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  11. ↑ "Views about abortion by state".
  12. ↑ Jatlaoui, Tara C. (2017). "Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2014". MMWR. Surveillance Summaries. 66 (24): 1–48. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss6624a1. ISSN 1546-0738. PMC 6289084. PMID 29166366.
  13. ↑ Jatlaoui, Tara C. (2018). "Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2015". MMWR. Surveillance Summaries. 67 (13): 1–45. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss6713a1. ISSN 1546-0738. PMC 6289084. PMID 30462632.
  14. ↑ Jatlaoui, Tara C. (2019). "Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2016". MMWR. Surveillance Summaries. 68 (11): 1–41. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss6811a1. ISSN 1546-0738. PMC 6289084. PMID 31774741.
  15. ↑ "The Truth About Catholics and Abortion" (PDF). Catholics for Choice. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  16. ↑ Milligan, Susan (January 20, 2017). "Stepping Through History, A timeline of women's rights from 1769 to the 2017 Women's March on Washington". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  17. ↑ Dillon, Michele (1999). Catholic identity: balancing reason, faith, and power. Cambridge University Press. p. 106. ISBN 9780521639590.
  18. 1 2 Arnold, Amanda (2019-05-21). "How to Join the Nationwide Abortion-Ban Protest Today". The Cut. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  19. 1 2 3 Bacon, John. "Abortion rights supporters' voices thunder at #StopTheBans rallies across the nation". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
  20. ↑ "About the March for Life". marchforlife.org. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  21. ↑ Morrow, Brendan (26 January 2017). "March for Life 2017: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved 28 January 2017. The general goal of the march is always to advocate for the overturning of Roe v. Wade...
  22. ↑ Frank Somerville; Richard O'Mara (January 24, 1997). "Keeler exhorts March for Life crowd". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 12 July 2018. The U.S. Park Police estimated 45,000 people marched, about 10,000 more than last year.
  23. ↑ Keyes, Allison (January 25, 2013). "Anti-Abortion 'March For Life' Draws Thousands In Washington". Retrieved 12 July 2018. Tens of thousands of anti-abortion protesters gathered on the National Mall on Friday to mark the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.
  24. ↑ Drost, Michael. "Pro-life activists march on court; Call on Obama to 'save lives' by opposing pro-choice bills".The Washington Times, D.C. Area Section, A18. January 23, 2009. Retrieved November 9, 2009
  25. ↑ "2018 March for Life Info". Archived from the original on 2018-07-17. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  26. ↑ Toner, Robin "Rally Against Abortion Hears Pledge of Support by Reagan". The New York Times. January 23, 1987. Retrieved November 22, 2009
  27. ↑ "History". marchforlife.org. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2017. On January 22, 1974, the first MARCH FOR LIFE was held on the West Steps of the Capitol. An estimated 20,000 committed prolife Americans rallied that day on behalf of our preborn brothers and sisters.
  28. ↑ Goodman, Bethany (18 January 2010). "History of the March". marchforlife.org. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  29. ↑ Janofsky, Michael. "Abortion Opponents Rally, Saying the End of Roe is Near". The New York Times. January 23, 2006. Retrieved November 9, 2009
  30. ↑ "Anti-abortion activists, including one who kept fetuses, convicted of illegally blocking DC clinic". AP News. August 29, 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  31. 1 2 3 Jacobson, Mireille; Royer, Heather (December 2010). "Aftershocks: The Impact of Clinic Violence on Abortion Services". American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. 3: 189–223. doi:10.1257/app.3.1.189.
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