2006 Legislature: The debate continues The dueling calls of Capitol protesters: 'Stop Alito,' 'Stop abortion'
By DAVID MILES | The New Mexican
January 24, 2006
Abortion-rights supporters and opponents Monday found something they could agree on during the 33rd anniversary of a U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion -- both sides brandished signs in favor of stopping something from happening.
The message of roughly 50 abortion opponents at a Capitol rally was simple: "Stop Abortion Now."
About the same number of abortion-rights supporters also held red placards resembling stop signs, but theirs said: "Stop Alito." The signs referred to Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, whose previous statements on abortion have drawn fire from abortion-rights activists.
Alito, a judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, has said a statement he made on a 1985 job application saying the "Constitution does not protect the right to an abortion" would not have a bearing on how he would rule on abortion-related cases as a Supreme Court justice.
Other than the anti-Alito signs, abortion-rights supporters made no references to Alito at a rally marking the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion. Members of the New Mexico Coalition for Choice instead focused on issues closer to home, such as a state House joint memorial (HJM 9) asking the state Insurance Division to update a 2002 study of how many health insurers are complying with a requirement to offer prescription-contraceptive coverage.
Coalition members included NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico and Planned Parenthood of New Mexico.
Rep. Mimi Stewart, an Albuquerque Democrat who sponsored the House memorial, spoke at the rally, as did Sen. John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe. "This is an issue that government does not need to be involved in," Grubesic said.
Graciela Lopez, a senior at Highland High School in Albuquerque, said she was glad that a friend helped her obtain the "morning-after" pill to prevent a pregnancy after she was raped at age 16 by her massage therapist.
"The decision to have an abortion is a difficult and life-altering decision," Lopez said. "However, that decision -- painful as it is -- belongs to the woman, not to the government."
Abortion foes stood nearby, armed with their own signs and hundreds of pink and blue balloons. Several church groups from Northern New Mexico chanted slogans like "God Chose Life, Only God Can Take Life" while abortion-rights supporters held their own rally.
The Rev. Terry Brennan, a priest at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in San Juan Pueblo, said church members showed up outside the Roundhouse to show their support for anti-abortion legislation and to pray for an end to abortion.
"The minds and hearts of people are turning toward life," Brennan said.
In 2002, Brennan used his homily at a church service to endorse Republican John Sanchez for governor because of Sanchez's anti-abortion views and distributed fliers outlining the abortion-voting records of Sanchez and eventual winner Bill Richardson, a Democrat.
