Thelegalization of abortion brought out the anti-abortion activists who were able to create areal threat to the newly won right to abortion. These anti-abortion activists pressedCongress for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion and were pressing forlegislation that would cut off federal funding of abortions.In response to the anti-abortion threats, single-issue abortion movements did notdisband but regrouped. The National Association for Repeal of Abortion Laws changedits name to the National Abortion Rights Action League after it became apparent that thisfight over abortion rights would continue for some time. Local groups also took torenaming their organizations and continuing on with the fight to protect their victory. Even legislators who had supported the movement prior to the victory were preparing forthe next wave of fighting.Tactics that were used following the Roe v. Wade decision were much like thetactics leading up to that decision. It had become apparent that litigation was a successfultool for social change and legalization offered the movement the opportunity to use tacticsthat had been used successfully in the past. It was not just the victory but the pastexperience of the movement’s leaders that allowed the movement to take advantage of theSupreme Court decision. Pro choice groups used litigation to carry out Roe v. Wade. Pro-choice groupsteamed up with the ACLU and filed lawsuits that would force hospitals to provideabortions. After several successes with this litigation, pro-choice groups began mailingsto hospitals showing the successful results of these lawsuits. These groups urged thehospitals to provide abortions so that they could avoid litigation. Also, pro-choice groups supported the creation of independent abortion clinics andmade efforts to ensure that the services offered at these clinics were of high quality andaccessible. Seminars were held nationally to teach how to effectively se...
