In 1989, during NOW’s 2nd March for Women’s Lives, a powerful monument was unveiled to honor women who died from illegal, unsafe abortions.
By Zoe
In 1989, during NOW’s 2nd March for Women’s Lives, a striking monument was unveiled in Washington, D.C. This event, which saw a record-setting 500,000 people gather at the National Mall, aimed to influence the Supreme Court’s deliberations on Roe v. Wade. Amidst the powerful “Mobilized for Women’s Lives” rally at the Lincoln Memorial, sponsored by the National Organization for Women, a special tribute stood out.
Commissioned by the Feminist Majority Foundation, the monument bore a solemn inscription: “IN MEMORY OF THE COURAGEOUS WOMEN WHO DIED FROM ILLEGAL UNSAFE ABORTIONS BECAUSE THEY HAD NO CHOICE.” These words, penned by NOW Vice President Toni Carabillo, serve as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of restricted access to safe abortions.
Placed near the Washington Monument, the memorial appeared so lifelike that tourists questioned its absence from official guides. This realistic tribute honored the women who lost their lives due to unsafe abortion practices, emphasizing the critical importance of reproductive rights.
This monument, born from the 1989 rally, echoes the call for safe, legal abortion access, reminding us of the lives lost and the ongoing fight for women’s rights.
-Zoe
Watch the Mobilize for Women’s Lives Rally Video
