Abortion in the District of Columbia is legal at all stages of pregnancy. In 1971, inUnited 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, theDistrict 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 abortion-rights and anti-abortion activism. On the abortion-rights side,Catholics for Choice andEMILY's List are based there. On the anti-abortion side,March for Life takes place annuallyprotesting both the practice and legality of abortion on or around the anniversary ofRoe v. Wade.
Because of the nature of their abortion laws,New York City and theDistrict 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 theHyde 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]
A law inWashington, D.C., which allowed abortion to protect the life or health of the woman, was challenged in the Supreme Court in 1971 inUnited 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]
The 1971 caseUnited 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]
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]
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 thePew Research Center that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.[11]
| Census division and state | Number | Rate | % change 1992–1996 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1995 | 1996 | 1992 | 1995 | 1996 | ||
| South Atlantic | 269,200 | 261,990 | 263,600 | 25.9 | 24.6 | 24.7 | –5 |
| Delaware | 5,730 | 5,790 | 4,090 | 35.2 | 34.4 | 24.1 | –32 |
| District of Columbia | 21,320 | 21,090 | 20,790 | 138.4 | 151.7 | 154.5 | 12 |
| Florida | 84,680 | 87,500 | 94,050 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 7 |
| Georgia | 39,680 | 36,940 | 37,320 | 24 | 21.2 | 21.1 | –12 |
| Maryland | 31,260 | 30,520 | 31,310 | 26.4 | 25.6 | 26.3 | 0 |
| North Carolina | 36,180 | 34,600 | 33,550 | 22.4 | 21 | 20.2 | –10 |
| South Carolina | 12,190 | 11,020 | 9,940 | 14.2 | 12.9 | 11.6 | –19 |
| Virginia | 35,020 | 31,480 | 29,940 | 22.7 | 20 | 18.9 | –16 |
| West Virginia | 3,140 | 3,050 | 2,610 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 6.6 | –14 |
| Location | Residence | Occurrence | % obtained by out-of-state residents | Year | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Rate^ | Ratio^^ | No. | Rate^ | Ratio^^ | ||||
| District of Columbia | 1,407 | 7.9 | 148 | 2,790 | 15.7 | 293 | 55.6 | 2014 | [12] |
| District of Columbia | 1,424 | 7.9 | 149 | 1,267 | 7 | 132 | — | 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 | |||||||||
Anadvocacy organization calledCatholics for Choice (CFC) was founded in 1973 to support the availability of abortion, stating that this position is compatible with Catholic teachings particularly withprimacy 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 abortion-rights positions.[16]
In October 1984, CFC (thenCatholics for a Free Choice) placed an advertisement, signed by over one hundred prominent Catholics, including nuns, in theNew York Times. The advertisement, calledA 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]
Since 2017 there has been an annualWomen's March inWashington DC in January, the weekend of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.[18]
#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 overturnRoe v. Wade.[19] Women from the District participated in marches supporting abortion-rights as part of a #StoptheBans movement in May 2019.[20] The largest protest as part of #StopTheBans took place at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on May 21.[19][20] People in attendance includedNARAL President Ilyse Hogue andPlanned Parenthood President Dr.Leana Wen. Many women wore red, referencing women inMargaret Atwood'sThe Handmaid's Tale.[20]
Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, anti-abortion and abortion-rights activists demonstrated outside the Supreme Court building.[21] By noon, there was a major police presence around the Supreme Court building and theCapitol building, including police withriot gear, and police squad cars and SUVs. Multiple streets were barricaded by police.[22]
On June 30, 2022, more than 180 abortion-rights protesters were arrested in Washington, D.C. after sitting and blocking an intersection near the Supreme Court.[23]
On July 4, 2022, abortion-rights protests were held across the country, including Washington, D.C., New York City,Philadelphia,Boston, Los Angeles,Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego,Portland,Seattle, Chicago,Minneapolis,Kansas City,Springfield,Madison,Milwaukee,Lansing, Detroit,Bloomington,Columbus,Cleveland,Cincinnati,Denver,Charlotte,Asheville,Atlanta,Roanoke,Birmingham,Tampa, Miami,Las Vegas,Albuquerque,Salt Lake City,San Antonio,Austin, andHouston.[24]
On July 9, 2022, another day of abortion-rights protests occurred in cities across the country, with over 10,000 people marching in Washington, D.C.[25]
On July 19, 2022, 35 abortion-rights protesters including 17 members of Congress were arrested in Washington, D.C. after blocking an intersection near the Supreme Court.[26]
On October 8, 2022, thousands of people marched and rallied in abortion-rights protests in cities across the country, in conjunction with the Women's March in Washington, D.C.[27]
On November 2, 2022, three abortion-rights protesters were arrested in Washington, D.C. after interrupting arguments during aSupreme Court session.[28]
On January 20, 2023, abortion-rights protesters disrupted an anti-abortion service in Washington, D.C.[29]
On January 20, 2024, thousands of abortion-rights protesters rallied and marched at more than 100 Women's March events nationwide, with the main events held inPhoenix, Arizona andWashington, DC.[30]
On March 26, 2024, hundreds of abortion-rights protesters rallied and marched inWashington, DC as the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether or not to limit access tomifepristone. 13 abortion-rights protesters were arrested for blocking an intersection near the Supreme Court.[31]
On September 14, 2024, about 2,000 people participated in the first Gender Liberation March inWashington, DC, which united abortion-rights protesters and transgender rights protesters.[32]
On November 2, 2024, thousands of abortion-rights protesters rallied and marched at Women's March events nationwide, with the main event held inWashington, DC, where over 15,000 people marched.[33][34]
On November 9, 2024, hundreds of abortion-rights protesters rallied at a Women's March protest outside of the Heritage Foundation headquarters inWashington, DC.[35]
On December 10, 2024, several people were arrested during a protest to ratify theEqual Rights Amendment inWashington, DC.[36]
TheMarch for Life is an annual rallyprotesting both the practice and legality ofabortion, held in Washington, D.C., on or around the anniversary ofRoe v. Wade on January 22, a landmark decision issued in 1973 by theUnited States Supreme Court decriminalizing abortion. The march, whose stated mission is to "End abortion by uniting, educating, and mobilizingpro-life people in the public square", advocates for overturningRoe v. Wade.[37][38] The event typically draws tens of thousands of attendees.[39][40] The March for Life proceedings begin around noon.[41] They typically consist of a rally at theNational Mall near Fourth Street (in 2018, this will be near 12th St. NW).[42] It is followed by a march which travels downConstitution 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.[43] The first March for Life, which was founded byNellie Gray, was held on January 22, 1974, on the West Steps of theCapitol, with an estimated 20,000[44] supporters in attendance. The march was originally intended to be a one-time event, in hopes that the Supreme Court would reverseRoe 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 untilRoe v. Wade was overturned by incorporating moregrassroots anti-abortion activists into the march, which would later be officially recognized as a nonprofit organization the same year.[45] During the 33rd annual March for Life in 2006, the nomination of JudgeSamuel Alito to the Supreme Court caused a major shift for the movement, because of the expectation that Alito would "winSenate approval and join a majority in overturningRoe."[46]
On October 22, 2020, five anti-abortion protesters were arrested after forcing their way into a clinic inWashington, DC and blocking people from entering. They were convicted of violating federal law and face up to 11 years in prison.[47]
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.[48] An incident of anti-abortion violence occurred at an abortion clinic in Washington, D.C., on July 4, 1984.[48]
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.[48]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)The general goal of the march is always to advocate for the overturning ofRoe v. Wade...
The U.S. Park Police estimated 45,000 people marched, about 10,000 more than last year.
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.
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.
