Wendy Riester had an abortion 50 years ago. At the time, she had an IUD which became dislodged, requiring her to get an abortion after her doctor said she had a 95% chance of death from infection.
“I was 23 years old, newly married. To me there was no question. I got an abortion. Now women don’t have that choice. I would have died in a parking lot. Instead, I’ve lived a good life. I’ve got three children, two grandchildren,” Riester told The Daily Cardinal. “I want other women to live too.”
Deborah Lofgren, a member of the Raging Grannies, had an illegal abortion before Roe v. Wade in a basement in the Bronx.
“I’ve got three beautiful daughters that didn’t have to worry about that [illegal abortions], but I also now have a granddaughter who does,” Lofgren told The Daily Cardinal. “It's so frightening to think that I don't know what would happen now.”
Although she was healthy, she later went through a second trimester miscarriage due to her going into shock and a failed check on the fetus’ heart rate. Doctors rushed Lofgren into an operating room to do dilation and curettage (D&C) to save her life.
Riester, Lofgren and others shared similar stories at the State Capitol where hundreds of activists of all ages gathered for the Rally for Reproductive Freedom Tuesday in support of access for health care, women's rights and the election of Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
“In Wisconsin, some politicians think they know you better than you, and we are frequently overruled by untrained politicians with political agendas. It’s not okay,” said Dr. Kirsten Lyerly, an OB-GYN and former congressional candidate for Wisconsin’s 8th district. “Politicians tell us that abortion bans protect women, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Abortion bans hurt women. They kill women, they tear families apart. We're not going back.”
Health care professionals, activists and politicians addressed the crowd urging people to go to the polls on April 1, noting former Republican Attorney General and state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel’s anti-abortion stance.
“Health care is a human right… as a nurse I want everyone to be able to have access to health care,” said Katie Perkrul, a nurse who works in a rural community. “This election is going to impact generations to come. We are voting for our girls, our grandchildren and our votes are important.”
Abortion has been a critical campaign issue for Wisconsin Democrats after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending constitutionally protected abortion access nationwide. The decision triggered an 1849 Wisconsin law to go back into effect that banned abortion procedures in the state with no exceptions for rape or incest. In 2023, abortion rights played a crucial role in electing liberal-leaning Justice Janet Protasiewiecz to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Lyerly criticized the 1849 law, saying it causes confusion for doctors and creates uncertainty about how they can properly care for their patients. She opposed Schimel because of his support for the 1849 abortion ban.
Democratic lawmakers were also adamant about the importance of this election, noting Wisconsin’s pending case about existing statutory language from the 1849 law.
“Our Supreme Court shouldn’t be imposing their own personal views on the rest of us, but that is exactly what Brad Schimel did as attorney general, and that is what he would do in the court,” Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, told the Cardinal.
Sen. Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, told the Cardinal she believes Crawford has been an independent judge and would continue if elected to the Supreme Court. Hesselbein also expressed her worry for Schimel’s campaign.
“I’m really, really worried Elon Musk is pouring millions of dollars into his bromance with Brad Schimel, and that should make everyone in the entire state of Wisconsin pause,” Hesselbein said.
Following the Rally for Reproductive Freedom was the March 4 Democracy Protest led by 50501, where protesters marched the Capitol Square Loop with signs showing support for abortion rights, democracy and Ukraine and opposing the Trump administration.
“Rallies like this are important because it shows the government that the people are watching, they see what's going on and they’re concerned,” rally goer Katie Hoverson told the Cardinal. “Hopefully, with enough of a groundswell of uprising, nonviolent protesting and communication, it will embolden them to do the right thing.”
Clara Strecker is a copy chief for The Daily Cardinal. She also covers state news.
