Strong student attendance at Repeal march, despite rain and bus strike

20,000 estimated in march to Dail demanding immediate repeal of the 8th amendment

NEWS

A delegation of about 300 students marched today under the USI banner as ‘Students for Choice’ in the annual March for Choice. The students assembled from 12:30 outside House Six from where they proceeded to march to outside the Garden of Remembrance to join the rest of the march. This year’s march was themed as “Rise and Repeal”, in reference to the centenary of the 1916 Rising. The Abortion Rights Campaign has said this is a “comment on the failure of our Republic to fulfill the promise of equality made in 1916”. The march proceeded through Dublin city concluding at Merrion Square during which speakers, including midwife Philomena Canning, addressed the crowd.

The students’ union formally adopted a pro-choice position three years ago after both a preferendum and referendum were put to the student body. Today’s activities are part of a campaign undertaken by the SU after the formation of a committee last year. The government has announced that there will be a Citizen’s Assembly in the near future to discuss the question of abortion in Ireland.

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