MADISON, Wis. — A special session to repeal Wisconsin's abortion ban from 1849 lasted roughly 15 seconds Wednesday.
There was no debate, there were no votes, but there were plenty of people gathered in the rotunda of the Capitol as Planned Parenthood advocates participated in a so-called “pink out” rally.
As of right now, abortion is still legal in Wisconsin. However, if the U.S. Supreme Court were to overturn Roe v. Wade, as a leaked draft opinion suggests, that would no longer be the case.
In an attempt to repeal Wisconsin's abortion ban from 1849, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers called a special session that was ignored by Republican legislative leaders Wednesday.
For Bonnie Stalker, who graduated high school in 1973, the abortion rights fight looked much different.
“Back in that time, it was about women's liberation,” Stalker explained. “I started wearing pants in 10th grade in high school. I mean, so women's liberation was huge.”
Stalker can't help but feel like a bit of a trailblazer, now fighting on behalf of her two daughters.
“We didn't have the morning-after pill, we didn't have a lot of those that we fought so hard through the years to have available, so that we women could make choices in our lives,” Stalker said.
Unlike other states, Wisconsin has yet to repeal or modify its abortion ban. The law, as written in 1849, would be enforced if Roe v. Wade is repealed.
“Unfortunately, Wisconsin will probably not be one of those states because the Republicans in our legislature don't have the will to act on behalf of the people of Wisconsin,” State Sen. Janet Bewley, D-Mason, told reporters during a press conference.
Republicans didn't act and immediately gaveled in and out of the special session.
“Wisconsin law has not changed, and our pro-life position has not changed,” State Sen. Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said in a statement. "Killing innocent babies is not health care.”
However, for Stalker, it is not so much a conversation about care as it is about choice.
“I would hope today they would open their eyes and realize it's not about control,” Stalker said. “It's about freedom and my individual right to freedom.”
Meanwhile, Wisconsin Right to Life applauded the efforts of Senate President Chris Kapenga, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, and Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu for not taking action on the special session.
"Abortion is not healthcare, and keeping 940.04 in place is yet another step toward creating a culture in Wisconsin that is truly pro-women, pro-babies, and pro-life," Gracie Skogman, legislative director at Wisconsin Right to Life said in a statement. "Women facing challenging or unexpected pregnancies deserve support, respect, and life-affirming care instead of the lie that abortion is the only option."