Washington, DC - It was a little past 10 a.m. on June 24, 2022, a scorching summer day in Washington, D.C. Hundreds had gathered outside the Supreme Court of the United States, awaiting the decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, which ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that had legalized abortion nationwide.
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, announced the decision from the Supreme Court steps: “The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion.” Her words sparked a mix of jubilant tears and profound disappointment among the crowd.
Savanna Deretich, the federal government affairs coordinator for Students for Life of America, was present on that historic day. She described feeling the “purest joy” and, for the first time, understood “what it meant to actually just weep because you were so happy.” Deretich, then the state government affairs coordinator, was in D.C. with fellow staff members and about 200 of the group’s top student leaders for their annual National Leadership Collective. Expecting the decision, they spent part of the day at the Supreme Court before resuming their training.
“When the decision happened, it was one of the best experiences of our lives because we had about 200 students flood the court with their ‘I’m the pro-life generation’ and ‘I’m part of the post-Roe generation’ signs,” Deretich recounted. Despite the extreme heat, she said, “We were so happy I don’t think any of us really cared or realized how hot it was.”
Deretich, 25, grew up in a Christian homeschooling family where the sanctity of life was emphasized from a young age. Her commitment to the pro-life cause was ignited in college when New York legalized infanticide in 2018. Seeing legislators celebrate the bill's passage triggered a “burning fire” in her heart, compelling her to dedicate her life to protecting life in law.
Another pro-life advocate, Savannah Dudzik, an events representative with Live Action, rushed to D.C. upon hearing the news. She was on a Zoom call when the decision came through, causing her to cry with joy. She immediately booked a flight from Tampa, following her father's advice, and arrived at the Supreme Court in the afternoon, staying until dark to celebrate with other pro-lifers.
“There was overwhelming joy on the pro-life side: Our prayers had been answered!” Dudzik recalled. She returned the next day for a celebration rally, noting a shift in the atmosphere to a more sober realization that the fight was far from over, now moving to federal and state levels.
Dudzik's involvement in the pro-life movement deepened after Roe's overturn. She began working with Live Action, attending events nationwide to spread the pro-life message. Becoming a wife and mother to a baby girl further fueled her motivation. “From the second I saw the positive pregnancy test, working in the pro-life movement has become even more personal and close to my heart,” she said.
Deretich also took on a new role after the overturn, becoming the federal government affairs coordinator for Students for Life of America. She focuses on ensuring that pro-life senators and Congress members understand that the fight continues. “We still have to talk about it. We still have to take actions on it, and the fight is not over. It’s not just a state issue,” she explained.
Both Deretich and Dudzik acknowledge significant victories since Roe v. Wade was overturned, such as 14 states enacting laws to ban abortion and protect human life fully. However, they emphasize that much work remains, especially with upcoming ballot initiatives on abortion in several states, including Florida, Colorado, and South Dakota.