Washington ( CNN ) -- Abortion rights supporters and opponents hit the streets of the nation 's capital Friday to mark the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade , the landmark Supreme Court ruling establishing a woman 's constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy . Anti-abortion activists held a rally on the National Mall and marched to the Supreme Court , followed by a walk to Capitol Hill to urge legislative action . An annual March for Life has been held in Washington since 1974 . `` We want to change people 's hearts and minds and help them to know that abortion ... is not necessary and really undermines the rights of women , '' U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spokeswoman Deirdre McQuade told CNN . `` We 're working toward the day when abortion will not only be illegal but unthinkable . '' Abortion rights supporters , led in part by the National Organization for Women , planned their own rally and vigil on the steps of the high court . `` A fetus is not a life , sorry , '' NOW President Terry O'Neill told CNN . `` And no , nobody 's religious conviction justifies taking women 's ability to shape their own futures away from them . '' Activists on both sides of the highly divisive issue believe there is a chance the conservative-leaning high court could eventually overturn the 1973 ruling . Questions regarding abortion rights have played a key role in the health care reform debate . A number of abortion rights supporters believe a bill passed by the House of Representatives in November does not do enough to provide access to reproductive services . Many abortion rights opponents say legislation approved by the Senate in December does not go far enough to ensure taxpayer dollars are not used to fund abortions . CNN 's Paul Courson , David de Sola and Alan Silverleib contributed to this report .
37 years ago Roe v. Wade established a woman 's right to terminate pregnancy . Leaders on both sides of abortion issue hit hard in Washington . March for Life wants law that protects life from ` ` biological beginning '' Civil rights supporters led by National Organization for Women plan meetings , vigil at Supreme Court .