The local chapter of the National Organization for Women used the 25th Annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts to collect signatures in support of abortion rights.

Ni-Ta-Nee NOW, set up a table at the festival to get signatures for a petition opposing the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to prohibit federally funded clinics from counseling abortion.

"It's mostly poor women in these clinics whose rights are being violated," said Kimberly Hamilton, a Ni-Ta-Nee NOW member.

They also collected signatures for a petition asking the U.S. Senate not to approve Clarence Thomas as the next Supreme Court justice.

"We'd like for everyone to vote specifically for a nominee who supports Roe vs. Wade," said member Anne Champagne.

Ni-Ta-Nee NOW President Joanne Tosti-Vasey will give petitions to U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and other lawmakers.

"NOW is a civil rights organization designed mostly to provide women equal status in the U.S. and protection under our laws," said Joanne Tosti-Vasey, Nit-a-nee NOW president. "We're very concerned about the potential loss of reproductive freedom in the United States."

Several people signed the petitions during the festival, Champagne said.

"Abortion should be legal. That's all there is to it," said Carole Schwinn, a Jackson, Mich., resident, after she signed both petitions.

The table was set up across from several artists so Ni-Ta-Nee NOW could take advantage of the crowds the festival attracted. Over the first three days of the festival, NOW collected thousands of signatures, Champagne said.

One of the festival artists, Steven Catania, said, "Abortion should certainly be left open in some cases." Catania, from Millmont, used to work with foster children who were on drugs and sometimes pregnant.

Another petition signer, Lisa McMonagle, from Julian, said, "I belive in abortion rights. I think women need to have control of their own bodies. If they don't they're slaves."