26 April 2021
By Abby Myers
A court case that changed America and affected the lives of millions.
Roe V. Wade is a continuous battle for pro-lifers and we must keep up the good fight on behalf of the unborn. Overturning Roe is the path we must take to help America become a country that is truly rooted in what the forefathers had envisioned. A Country that recognizes Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as the standard for our society. But before we can have any hope of ending Roe V. Wade, we must learn everything we can about it. The history, who was involved and what it would take to overturn this long-standing symbol of oppression.
The History of Roe:
In 1857, the AMA began to fight abortion and they were ultimately successful in making it illegal in almost every case. After 23 years, essentially every state had limited the ability to get an abortion. Needless to say, in 1880, the lives of the unborn were valued much higher than they are in this day and age.
By the 1900’s there was a gradual build up to the landmark year of 1973. The Supreme Court made a decision in favor of allowing every married couple to utilize birth control in 1965, they justified their decision by the right to privacy granted in the U.S. constitution. This was a steppingstone for Roe v. Wade to come about. As soon as pro-choice advocates found that they could justify abortion under the pretense of “privacy” they jumped at the chance. In 1970, the case began. Jane Roe whose real name was Norma McCorvey brought up a case against the district attorney of Dallas County, Henry Wade. The case was taken to the Supreme Court because Norma claimed it stripped her of her constitutional rights which made it the Supreme Court’s business. It was passed by a 7-2 majority and legalized abortion in every term of pregnancy in all 50 states. Many people were horrified by the decision and on January 22nd, 1974, the first March for life was held in Washington D.C. An estimated 20,000 people showed up in order to protest the Supreme Court’s decision which took place exactly a year before.
The People of Roe:
Norma McCorvey (Roe) was born in Simmesport, Louisiana but grew up in the State of Texas. She was born to a single, alcoholic mother. Meaning that should abortion have been legal and readily accessible, Norma’s mother was in the exact scenario most women who get abortions face, so if Roe v. Wade were around when Norma was in utero, she probably would have been aborted and the Norma McCorvey that many people grew to love never would have been born. Norma made a lot of poor decisions during her lifetime that led to numerous pregnancies. She married at the age of 16 and became pregnant but was divorced before the child was born. She gave the child to her mother and continued on with her life. When she turned twenty, she became pregnant again and she put the child up for adoption. In 1969, Norma was 22 and she got news that she was with child…again. This time she wanted an abortion, she was persuaded to team up with two feminist lawyers. Originally, all McCorvey wanted was to get her abortion and move on, although there really is no moving on from abortion. However, when she was not given permission, they had to file a class action lawsuit which ended up going to the Supreme Court and by this time, Norma had already given her child up for adoption. After Roe v. Wade was passed, McCorvey spent time advocating for abortion and for women’s rights. However, in 1995, she and Philip Benham became friends. Benham was the head of the pro-life organization, Operation Rescue. He caused her to reconsider her beliefs and something no one had expected took place. Norma became an avid pro-life advocate who regretted everything she had done.
Henry Wade was a Dallas prosecutor. He was born to a pair of East Texan farmers. He had 10 siblings, 5 of whom also became lawyers. According to his parents, he was one that loved to argue which assisted him in becoming one of the most renowned prosecutors of his time. He had many great accomplishments including the prosecution of Jack Ruby who was responsible for the death of JFK’s killer, Lee Harvey Oswald. Wade studied at the University of Texas in order to receive his law degree. He was the recipient of many high honors during his time there. Many people like to claim that Wade didn’t try to win the case. However, we don’t have any proof that he was pro-choice, and considering the fact that he was willing to combat abortion and fight it at the risk of losing his perfect prosecution record, we can draw our own conclusions. Henry Wade passed away at the age of 86 in an assisted living center. He was an impressive lawyer that was extremely dedicated to his craft. Roe v. Wade is a black mark on what was a perfect record. One day when the law is overturned, Wade’s loss will be forgotten but the treacherous legacy that Roe left on America will be remembered.
How can we overturn Roe and why should we?
Education is one of the main things necessary to overturn Roe. I say this because electing republican justices has not worked on its own. Believe it or not, Republicans have had the majority of the Supreme Court during multiple abortion cases each time the majority siding with the pro-choice groups. We need to make sure the justices on the Supreme Court understand the gravity of the situation and we must educate the public. A case is brought to the Supreme Court by 4 justices deciding that it is a case with enough importance to the country and the Constitution. Abortion cases make it to the Supreme Court quite frequently even though abortion is never mentioned in the constitution. Once a case is brought before the Supreme Court, they vote. If the majority sides with the pro-life position, that case takes precedence and Roe no longer applies.
Why do we want to overturn Roe? Over the course of the last 47 years, 61 million babies have been killed. Think about all those little hearts and lives. Those 61 million people could have had incredible lives and stories but every chance they would have had was torn away from them. They will never get to take their first step, hear the words “I love you”, find a passion or get to see the world. All they receive is death in some torturous way or another. That is why Roe must be overturned so that these innocent lives can receive hope and a purpose. These unborn lives must be protected, and we have an opportunity to do that by reversing Roe and making America a country that values every human life, including those who are unable to speak up for themselves.
Protecting the Defenseless – The Lifeguard Initiative