Grandmothers rally in Teaneck and say they dread return to pre-Roe v. Wade

TEANECK — On Jan. 22, 1973, Carly Simon topped the charts with "You're So Vain," Archie Bunker and his son-in-law wrote opposing letters to President Richard Nixon in the second episode of "All in the Family" and Roe v. Wade was decided.

Forty-nine years later, sign-carrying Baby Boomers gathered at the Arbor Terrace senior housing center Friday to lament how their legislative and judicial leaders appear to have forgotten their Woodstock-Peace-Free Love roots and to warn future generations of the consequences of overturning one of their generation's most momentous legal rulings.

The rally was called by former state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, 85, a longtime proponent of abortion rights. She was accompanied by Assemblywomen Ellen Park and Shama Haider of the 37th Legislative District.

In what was billed as a demonstration by grandmothers and great-grandmothers, the oldest participant was 106 years old.

Weinberg lost no time and minced no words in deriding the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion indicating the court is about to overrule the decision that made abortions legal in the U.S.

"I'm getting really tired of this s-blank-blank-blank, I'm getting tired of having to do this, but here we are again," Weinberg said. "Those of us who are old enough remember, women just didn't have access to safe health care and safe abortions. They used hangers, they went to back alleys for abortions."

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The 50 men and women gathered were equally outspoken about the importance of the law as they came of age in college and the workplace, and for future generations.

"I think there's an expression, if I knew I was going to die tomorrow I'd have a heart attack today," said Leslie McKeon. "I worry for the next generation."

McKeon held a "Women are not Handmaids" sign, referencing the 1985 Margaret Atwood novel "The Handmaid's Tale" in which young women are forced to bear children for the government's leaders when an unknown disease renders their wives sterile.

Terence Milligan recalled he was teaching in Teaneck at the time the 1973 opinion was announced, and that its termination would be a "national tragedy."

"Men have long desired to exercise control over women's bodies," Milligan said. "Until we say we are willing to raise taxes for the unwanted children, I don't want to hear about it."

Steve and Lynn Chaiken each carried signs. Steve's said, "repealing Roe won't stop abortions, it will only kill women." Lynn's said, "My Body, My Choice, same crap, different century."

"I was just getting out of college," Steve Chaiken said. "We believed in the women's right to choose."

Lynn Chaiken recalled having to escort a friend to an illegal abortion.

"It was one of those back-alley things in someone's apartment," Lynn said. "I've really become very nervous for our children and grandchildren."

Natalee Addison held a pink Planned Parenthood sign calling for abortion access, birth control and prenatal care.

"At the time I was in Kansas traveling with my husband, who was in the service," Addison said. "As a woman, I was not really conscious at the time. But now I believe in the right of women to make decisions over her own body. We can't let this go under the radar."

Marsha Stoltz is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: stoltz@northjersey.com

Twitter: @marsha_stoltz

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Roe v. Wade protest: Loretta Weinberg leads Teaneck grandmothers rally