DALLAS -
As pro-life and pro-choice advocates across the country prepare to mark the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, thousands gathered in Dallas today to protest abortion.
Cassandra Malone is one of the pro-life advocates who had an abortion years ago and now regrets her decision.
"Abortion does hurt women. ... I'm one of the women who was hurt by abortion," she said. "It is sad. Very sad."
Deana Cowger said she wonders what kind of child she might have had.
"A lot of people pressured me into having an abortion," Cowger said, "so I went ahead and did that. And it was a very, very bad decision."
Roe v. Wade actually started in Dallas 40 years ago, when a woman with the pseudonym Jane Roe filed a lawsuit against then-Dallas County District Attorney Henry Wade. Three years later, the Supreme Court ruled on the case, making abortion legal.
Bishop Kevin Farrell of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas helped lead the call today to reverse Roe v. Wade.
"What happened 37 years ago in Dallas, we will end in Dallas," Farrell told a crowd of supporters. "We have to live with that hope in our hearts and in our souls."
Few -- if any -- abortion rights advocates came to the demonstration.
Sulan Chang said pro-choice supporters aren't as likely to speak out as pro-life advocates.
"I think there's a very strong pro-choice movement in Texas," Chang said. "Unfortunately, the environment in Texas is very hostile towards pro-choice organizations, pro-choice individuals," she said.
Chang is president of the Texas Equal Access Fund, which helps fund abortions for low-income women.
"Other people, for whatever their own reasons, have decided that for themselves, abortion is not right, or they do not agree with it, or it's morally wrong," Chang said. "But unfortunately, that's not how everybody believes. And I think is the right of every woman to choose."
Malone said she hopes those who might consider abortions think again.
"There are places to reach out if you are considering an abortion that can help you make the right decisions," she said.
Cassandra Malone is one of the pro-life advocates who had an abortion years ago and now regrets her decision.
"Abortion does hurt women. ... I'm one of the women who was hurt by abortion," she said. "It is sad. Very sad."
Deana Cowger said she wonders what kind of child she might have had.
"A lot of people pressured me into having an abortion," Cowger said, "so I went ahead and did that. And it was a very, very bad decision."
Roe v. Wade actually started in Dallas 40 years ago, when a woman with the pseudonym Jane Roe filed a lawsuit against then-Dallas County District Attorney Henry Wade. Three years later, the Supreme Court ruled on the case, making abortion legal.
Bishop Kevin Farrell of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas helped lead the call today to reverse Roe v. Wade.
"What happened 37 years ago in Dallas, we will end in Dallas," Farrell told a crowd of supporters. "We have to live with that hope in our hearts and in our souls."
Few -- if any -- abortion rights advocates came to the demonstration.
Sulan Chang said pro-choice supporters aren't as likely to speak out as pro-life advocates.
"I think there's a very strong pro-choice movement in Texas," Chang said. "Unfortunately, the environment in Texas is very hostile towards pro-choice organizations, pro-choice individuals," she said.
Chang is president of the Texas Equal Access Fund, which helps fund abortions for low-income women.
"Other people, for whatever their own reasons, have decided that for themselves, abortion is not right, or they do not agree with it, or it's morally wrong," Chang said. "But unfortunately, that's not how everybody believes. And I think is the right of every woman to choose."
Malone said she hopes those who might consider abortions think again.
"There are places to reach out if you are considering an abortion that can help you make the right decisions," she said.
