The Connecticut Coalition for Choice commemorated the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade on Thursday with a news conference at the State Capitol.

In attendance to express support of the landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the United States were a number of state Constitutional Officers, elected officials, and leaders from pro‐choice organizations and supporters. Speakers focused on what’s at stake for women in both Congress and the state legislature. They praised Connecticut’s strong pro‐choice history and its elected leaders, many of whom now serve in the state’s highest offices.

“I’ll continue to work to protect choice for my kids and my grandchildren as I said on the House floor when we codified Roe in 1990,” said Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman. “We must stay vigilant and strong to protect against attacks on the future generation’s right to choose.”

Each year, the Coalition for Choice marks the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the right to privacy in the U.S. Constitution protects the right of a woman to choose whether to continue a pregnancy to term or to have an abortion.

“Today we honor our strong pro‐choice history and hope to invigorate state leaders to protect reproductive health care in Connecticut,” said Jillian Gilchrest of NARAL‐Pro‐choice Connecticut, co‐chair of the CT Coalition for Choice.

“While some in Congress are poised to take away newly acquired health care benefits from women and families, to repeal the historic health care bill, and to limit access to family planning funding and abortion, here at the state level we will work with our legislative allies to defend against attacks on women’s health and rights,” added Gretchen Raffa of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, co‐chair of the CT Coalition for Choice.