t up one of theseclinics with the support of Planned Parenthood. Prior to the Supreme Court decision there was no organized pro-choice lobbyinside Washington. However; the movement did not lack insiders who were in touch withlegislators. NARAL had leaders who had “inside” connections and establishedorganizations, like Planned Parenthood, had lobbyists who reported on legislativedevelopments and reactions to elected officials. Through these sources, pro-choiceleaders learned that the anti-abortion movement was flooding Congress with mailsupporting an amendment banning abortion. The pro-choice movement responded to the counter-movement threat with tacticsof its own. They urged their supporters to write their own letters to congress when itbecame clear that the pro-choice side was making a poor showing in this area. It becamevery important to counter the large number of letters being sent from anti-abortionists andto make it known that the pro-choice movement was still in the arena.Also, a pro-choice lobbying coalition was established that utilized both movementorganizations and established organizations. In late 1973, NARAL opened a lobbyingoffice in Washington to create an ongoing NARAL presence on Capital Hill and toparticipate more fully in the newly emerging lobbying coalition. When NARAL moved itsheadquarters to Washington in 1975 it had become clear that institutionalized tactics indefense of legal abortion had become very important to the movement.The years following the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision show a change inthe organization of the pro-choice movement. The political opportunity structure hadchanged for the group as more formalized organizations stepped forward to support theSupreme Court decision. Also, the political environment of the movement had changedwith the victory as the group was now on the defensive rather than the offensive. Movement victories help mobilize counter-movements and they ...
