THE URGENT NEED
Reproductive rights are in a state of emergency.
Forcing women to have children against their will is a form of enslavement. Yet, we are on track for 2013 to be the 3rd year in a row with record restrictions on women's access to abortion. 97% of rural counties do not have an abortion provider, 5 states have only one abortion clinic, new laws are closing the doors of abortion clinics nation-wide, abortion providers face unending harrassment and threat and abortion is more stigmatized than ever.
Women are full human beings who must have the right – through unrestricted and unstigmatized access to birth control and abortion – to decide for themselves when and whether they will have children. For decades, a movement which calls itself “pro-life” has unleashed violence against abortion providers, shamed and humiliated women, and relentlessly restricted access to abortion, especially for poor women. We must wage a determined fight to TURN THIS AROUND.
THE ABORTION RIGHTS FREEDOM RIDE
This summer, from July 24-August 25, after send-off rallies in New York City and San Francisco, caravans will travel from both coasts, rallying and gathering support along the way, arriving in North Dakota before August 1 when new laws are set to shut down the last abortion clinic in the state. Then, down to Wichita where those who courageously re-opened the clinic of Dr. George Tiller following his assassination by an anti-abortion gunman are facing serious, and escalating threat. On to Jackson, Mississippi where a temporary court injunction is the only thing keeping the last remaining clinic in the state open. All along the way, we’ll organize rallies for abortion rights, we'll erect visual displays that tell the truth about abortion and birth control, collect and amplify women’s abortion stories in order to break the silence, defend the clinics and providers most under attack, and meet with people to build lasting organization to DEFEAT the whole war on women.
We must all take responsiblity for stopping the reversal of abortion and birth control rights.
THE FUNDS WE NEED
$22,000 will put the Abortion Rights Freedom Ride on the road. This will cover the cost of van rentals from both coasts, gas and other travel expenses. It will pay for thousands of leaflets, palm-cards, and stickers as well as banners to honor abortion providers. It will help toward costs of visual displays. Most of all, this will help make it possible for the Abortion Rights Freedom Riders, including a crew of inspiring young activists who would not otherwise be able to be part of this to be on the road for a full month. We will need to do additional fundraising during the month-long ride, including raising the $6,600 needed to publish the statement for Abortion on Demand Without Apology as a full page in color on Sunday in the 3 main newspapers in North Dakota before August 1. A successful campaign now will make a decisive difference.
THE IMPACT
- The Abortion Rights Freedom Ride will help wake people up to the utter state of emergency confronting abortion rights in this country and the truth that forced motherhood is a form of female enslavement.
- The Abortion Rights Freedom Ride will plant a different pole. It will be part of reclaiming the political and moral high ground by exposing the immorality of forcing women to have children against their will.
- We will model and unleash the kind of mass political resistance that will be required to turn the tide and defeat the war on women.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
If you can, give money. Give as much as you can, whether that be $2,500 or $25 or $5. It really matters.
-- Join the Freedom Ride caravan -- sign up online for a leg or the whole ride.
-- Reach out to people you know along the route and ask them to provide housing, organize welcome parties and protests, and offer support in any way. We will stop in Cleveland, Chicago, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Jackson (WY), Denver, Boulder, Fargo, Sioux Falls, Bellevue, Wichita, Little Rock, Jackson (MS)
-- Sign and circulate the Abortion on Demand & Without Apology statement—among friends, family, online communities and to any prominent people you know.
-- Send in a letter or message of support.
-- Share your own abortion story or how you came to understand how essential this right is. Email us text or video to be posted on the Stop Patriarchy blog. StopPatriarchy@gmail.com
THANK YOU
Whatever you do, THANK YOU for being part of a movement that can really make a huge difference for the future of women everywhere!
WHO WE ARE
StopPatriarchy.org is a movement determined to bring forward millions of people to end all forms of degradation, enslavement, and oppression of women. Read our Call to Action here. We have a powerful track record of going right up against the most entrenched institutions and forces of patriarchy, and bringing forward powerful, transformative and contageous resistance.
