Yusuke J. Banno/Arizona Daily Wildcat English graduate student Patty Malesh participates in yesterday's pro-choice rally at the intersection of Speedway and Mountain.

More than 200 students, faculty and community activists lined East Speedway Boulevard yesterday afternoon, waving picket signs and chanting pro-choice slogans to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

The demonstration, organized by Tucson chapter of NOW, capped off a day of campus activities commemorating the 1973 Supreme Court case that gave women the right to choose.

Demonstrators flooded the corners of Speedway Boulevard and Mountain Avenue around 5:30 p.m., holding signs that said "Keep abortion legal" and "Honk for choice."

Many passersby, including senior citizens and truck drivers, honked in approval.

Chapters of Southern Arizona National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood joined members of Students for Choice ÷ who wore red T-shirts that read "Never Go Back" over the silhouette of a coat hanger ÷ in passing out informational pamphlets, buttons, bumper stickers and condoms during the demonstration.

After rush-hour traffic died down, the demonstrators marched to the UA Mall, where Students for Choice president Sheila Bapat introduced guest speakers including pediatrician and advocate of preventing teen pregnancy Dr. Eve Shapiro, political activist Katie Bolger, Planned Parenthood of Southern Arizona President Patti Caldwell and Jaime Michaelson, a member of Medical Students for Choice ÷ a local chapter of medical students hoping to increase reproductive health education.

"Four thousand abortions occur every year, but only one hour of medical school in the first two years is dedicated to the sensitive subject of the right of choice," Michaelson said.

Other speakers spoke out about setbacks to the choice movement that have occurred under the Bush administration, and they also condemned UA for not teaching abortion to medical students.

Under a 1972 agreement with the state legislature to build Arizona stadium, UA and UMC health providers are barred from practicing abortion services.

On his first day in office, Bush restored the global gag rule on international family planning assistance, and his administration has since worked to redefine the rights of the fetus. Last year, fetuses were ruled eligible for health coverage under the State Child Health Insurance Program.

Demonstrators said that keeping the public informed about birth control and reproductive issues and keeping the pro-choice message visible is especially important on Roe v. Wade's anniversary.

"Choice is especially important under the current administration, but it has always been important, and it will always be an important issue," said Brian Ellexson, a senior majoring in Spanish.

"We are demonstrating so people can see that we are out there. Us coming out here reminds people what the U.S. is all about. It reminds people that the ability to choose is the right of women," said Rebekah Wilce, a creative writing senior.

"I think it's important not to polarize this issue, to label something a race issue or a women's issue. This is an issue of human's rights," Ellexson said.

For linguistics professor Terry Langendoen, the message of the demonstration stirred deep emotions.

"I'm old enough to remember the horrors and tragedies from when abortion was illegal, I had close friends who had to go through it," Langendoen said.

Langendoen held up a sign at the demonstration that read "We Will Never Go Back."

Demonstrators included men and women ranging from students to the elderly.

Event organizers said that they were thrilled with the positive response to the demonstration, citing the tremendous turnout as proof that the campus community supports choice.

"We're really happy with the size of the turnout and especially happy about the people honking. There has been tremendous support," said Joyce Smith, action chair of Tucson NOW.

Phoenix and Tucson are the only places in Arizona where a woman can get an abortion.