Demonstrations held in DC commemorating one year since Roe v. Wade was overturned

WASHINGTON - Saturday marked one year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating a federal right to an abortion and making it a state decision.

"The way that things are going on right now, I’m afraid to have a child of my own. So I’m fighting for that choice, that opportunity to raise a family, become pregnant, have a healthy pregnancy and have my child, and have a healthy child in the future. I’m fighting for my future," one woman told FOX 5 DC. 

There were demonstrations across the DMV from a women’s march in support of abortion access to a pro-life rally at the Lincoln Memorial.

"Today, all are recognized as created equal except for pre-born Americans. This unjust discrimination must end," said Michael Kenney with the Pro-Life Partners Foundation. "It is right to defend the vulnerable, it is right to stand for the least among us. It is right to protect human beings at every stage."

Gallup’s polling on this indicates a majority of Americans support abortion access in some capacity. 

A record-high 69% say abortion should generally be legal in the first three months of pregnancy, 37% say it should be legal in the second three months of pregnancy and 22% in the last three months of pregnancy. 

The issue has become even more polarizing than it already was and its impact on politics is noticeable.

Another Gallup poll shows when it comes to the 2024 presidential election, a record 28% of Americans say candidates must share their abortion views. 

In the year since the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, states have limited or eliminated access to abortions while others have increased access. 

Here’s a rundown of what’s happened in the DMV over the past year. 

Maryland quickly passed the abortion care access act, which, in part made it easier for women who wanted to travel from out of state to receive care. Newly-elected Governor Wes Moore led a charge to stockpile the abortion drug mifepristone, which has been subject to litigation.

D.C. has laws on the books protecting abortion and the District also added safety nets for those coming from out of state who want care.

Then there’s Virginia, which is in the midst of a midterm election cycle where all 140 seats in the state legislature are up for grabs.

"Without a doubt. Abortion is going to be the top issue," said Michael Pope with Virginia Public Radio. 

Virginia didn’t do much this past year. With a Republican majority in the House, a Democratic majority in the Senate and a Republican governor, the legislature has been at a stalemate. The election could vastly change the complexion of the General Assembly. 

"There’s a huge turnover because we’ve got 11 incumbent senators who are retiring and then add on top of that, we’ve got five incumbent senators who have lost a primary, so that’s 16 departing members of a chamber that only has 40 members," Pope said. 

Whether abortion laws are a winning or losing policy, for both sides in Virginia, this fall will be very closely watched on a national level as we gear up for a 2024 election, Pope says.