CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A year after Roe v. Wade was overturned, dueling abortion demonstrations took to Federal Plaza.
On the first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Anna Valianos said the fight for abortion rights is personal.
"I was almost an abortion and I support my mom's right to choose and I think personally in my life would be completely different if the women in my life didn't have the right to choose," she said while getting emotional.
Rita Gutekanst reflected on how her view on the fight for abortion rights has changed.
"A year ago, it was just tremendously sad," she said. "It's equally sad (now), but it's more anger. It's more of a 'I have to do something. I have to put my body where my thoughts are."
However, Anti-abortion activists are still celebrating the overturning of Roe v. Wade one year later. Stephanie Hanlon was one of dozens, who attended the anti-abortion rally at Federal Plaza.
"We want to bring awareness that this is still a really important issue that needs to be addressed and we want the state of Illinois just to hear us and pursue bringing back the sanctity of life," she said.
Leaders of the anti-abortion rally said they are raising awareness about other options that exist beside abortion.
"We advocate for women to get real help," said Eric Scheidler, Executive Director of the Pro Life Action League. "We're gonna be calling out in the pro-life community to reach out to their friends and neighbors about this, to offer abortion alternatives...to join us on the frontlines."
In Illinois, abortion is legal and in the year since the Supreme Court's decision, abortion patients have increased by 54% in the state, according to Planned Parenthood.
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