Press release from Stop Patriarchy
Abortion Rights Freedom Ride—Ground Zero Texas Launches with Nat'l Webcast "People's Hearing" & Protest at Republican Party HQ Following Day (Houston)
July 25, 2014 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
As SCOTUS clamps down on Reproductive Rights and Texas Court poised to rule on widespread abortion restrictions that would close all but 6 clinics—Stop Patriarchy mobilizing nationally to front lines of battle with weekly Programs/Public Protests in Texas cities, and drawing in support from prominent figures
Wed July 30, 7pm
People's Hearing
Encore Theater
4715 Main St. Houston
Thursday, July 31st, 4pm
Coat Hanger Protest
Outside the Harris County Republican Party Head Quarters
3311 Richmond Ave. Houston, TX 77098
(Full schedule of Freedom Ride at end of release)
Interviews available w/ Sunsara Taylor and members of Abortion Rights Freedom Ride Advisory Board (below)
Through nationally webcast "Public Hearings"—featuring testimony from women who risked their lives or had their futures foreclosed Pre-Roe, as well as women facing the shame, stigma, and lack of access to abortion clinics today—the scale, scope, and life and death stakes of clinic closures will be brought into sharp focus. These Public Hearings will also include testimony from abortion providers and voices of conscience from the art and music world. See: Marge Piercy video statement and April 11 emergency forums.
In dramatic, confrontational, non-violent "Coat Hanger" protests—men and women raising bloody coat hangers (to represent the fact that women die from using wire hangers to self induce when abortion is illegal) and shackles to represent the enslavement of women, including images of the many women who have died from illegal abortions—institutions and individuals in Texas who have driven this assault on women’s right to abortion will be directly challenged. See: April 12 coat hanger actions nationwide.
On the heels of two major Supreme Court rulings against Reproductive Rights, and with a District Court set to rule August 4 on controversial and far-reaching restrictions that have the potential to leave Texas with only 6 clinics on September 1, the Abortion Rights Freedom Ride 2014: Ground Zero Texas is building momentum inside and outside of Texas. Recent signatories to a related Texas Abortion Emergency statement include: Mark Ruffalo, Gloria Steinem, Cornel West, Cynthia Nixon, and Susan Brownmiller. People who refuse to sit back while clinics are under threat of closure, men and women, young and old, are mobilizing to Texas this summer from July 30 through September, to draw a line, reclaim the moral high ground, bring a spotlight to this crisis, and stop and reverse the closures of abortion clinics.
"When abortion is illegal, women die," says Sunsara Taylor, initiator of Stop Patriarchy and writer for Revolution. "Now is the time for everyone who does not want to see women reduced to breeders and forced to have children against their will to stand up. Forced motherhood is female enslavement, and everyone has a role to play when the future of women as a whole is at stake."
Having just launched an online fundraiser, this project has already garnered support from significant providers, community leaders, and public figures such as Merle Hoffman, CEO of Choices Women's Medical Center; Dianne Derzis, owner of the last abortion clinic in MS, who offered 2 free abortion services for low-income women as part of the fundraiser; Dr. Susan Wicklund, author of This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor; Carol Downer, co-founder of Feminist Women's Health Center in LA; Sikivu Hutchinson, author of Moral Combat: Black Atheists, Gender Politics and the Values Wars; Rev. Donna Schaper, Senior Minister at Judson Church in New York City.
Calling for "Abortion on Demand and Without Apology!" the stigma, shame and morality of the anti-abortion side will be directly and openly challenged. While aiming to influence the courts decision, Stop Patriarchy draws inspiration from the original Freedom Riders, and sees bold, brave, and determined political resistance, rather than relying on the traditional channels of politicians and courts, as the necessary strategy to reverse these attacks.
The Freedom Ride will also draw on important lessons learned from last summer’s Abortion Rights Freedom Ride, which travelled to the 6 states that have only one abortion clinic remaining, and garnered support from notable figures such as Gloria Steinem, Mark Ruffalo, and Eve Ensler.
The Abortion Rights Advisory Board includes:
Diane Derzis, Owner, Jackson Women's Health Organization (last abortion clinic in Mississippi)
Carol Downer, founder of Feminist Women's Health Centers which began doing abortions in 1971
Merle Hoffman, CEO Choices Women's Medical Center which began doing abortions in 1971
Sunsara Taylor, writer, Revolution, initiator, End Pornography and Patriarchy: The Enslavement and Degradation of Women
Wendy Robinson, Director, Voice of Choice
Mary Lou Singleton, Licensed Midwife and Family Nurse Practitioner, as well as Founder of Personhood for Women (ABQ).
FULL SCHEDULE (Please see StopPatriarchy.org for updates)
Austin Events:
Monday August 4, 9-11:30 am
Stand Up for Women’s Lives,
Federal Courthouse W 5th St at Nueces St, 78701
On this day, a lawsuit is being brought by heroic abortion providers to challenge two medically unnecessary sections of HB2: one that will shut down 20 more abortion clinics in September, and one as applies to two rural clinics that serve low income women. In the nearby Republic Square Park, there will be a “prayer vigil” of anti-abortion groups, hoping and praying for what is ultimately the continued and expanded enslavement of women.
Join the right side of this fight: confront this “vigil” with the truth, exhort the court to do the right thing, and raise our voices for women’s futures and women’s lives!
Wednesday, August 6, 7 pm Central
People's Hearing:
Austin Centre 3809 South 2nd Street A-200 Austin, Texas 78704
Thursday, August 7, 4pm
Coat hanger Protest:
Governor's Mansion
1010 Colorado St
Austin, TX 78701
San Antonio Events:
Wed August 13, 7pm Central Time
People's Hearing:
Esperanza Peace & Justice Center
922 San Pedro Ave.
San Antonio, TX
Thursday, August 14, 4pm
Coat hanger Protest:
Cathedral of San Fernando
115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
Rio Grande Valley:
Wed., August 20
People's Hearing:
Location: TBD
Thursday, August 21, 4pm
Coat Hanger Protest
gather at Alice Wilson Hope Park, 1300 East Levee St., march to Gateway International Bridge.
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