People still passionate about Roe v. Wade 40 years later

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Jan. 22, 2013, may seem like a normal Tuesday. Then, you hear what happened on this day in history 40 years ago. On Jan. 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court made its ruling in the Roe v. Wade case.

The decision allowed women to chose abortion when ending a pregnancy. Since then many anti-abortion groups and pro-abortion rights believers have been vocal about the issue, like abortion protester Jack Ruckel.

"I think [protesting] works," Ruckel said.

Ruckel comes to Lafayette's Planned Parenthood branch several times a week in protest.

Planned Parenthood is an organization that has been in the forefront of the Roe v. Wade debates. It is against any option to overturn the ruling.

President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Indiana Betty Cockrum released a statement on the 40th anniversary. In part it reads like this.

"Unfortunately instead of focusing on jobs and the economy, politicians still insist on interfering with women's personal health decisions. What's clear is that Hoosiers, like the rest of America, don't want this. As a leading health care provider in Indiana, that's been serving Hoosiers for 80 years, our non-profit works every day to reduce unintended pregnancy and keep women healthy."

"I'm very happy to see such determination and joy in our students that want to participate publicly in sharing the gospel of life," Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School's Campus Ministry Director, Grant Freeman, said.

Freeman will lead 50 students to Washington D.C. this week for the annual March For Life. Those will be 50 people of the expected 500,000 people attending the anti-abortion event.

"You get to share in this testimony to everyone that 'pro-life' is joy," Freeman said.

Some pro-abortion rights believers will attend the march in opposition. It will be Friday at the Capitol Building.