Women ’ s Reproductive Rights in the U.S.A.

1. Women’sReproductiveRightsin the U.S.A. Barbara Shank and Milton Saier

2. According to Roe vs Wade, Abortion, like contraception, is a Woman’s Right.But Where Do We Stand Today?

3. The #1 environmental problem facing us is human overpopulation. We are not living sustainably.In order to allow continuance of human civilization, we must decrease our numbers.This must be accomplished humanely.The best solution, in our opinions, is prevention of unplanned/unwanted births.

4. When it comes to abortion, there are three important moral question: 1, What will most effectively alleviate human suffering and preserve essential resources on our planet? 2, Will women ever be fully emancipated human beings in control of their lives and reproduction? 3, Will women continue to be forced to submit to male authority and breed against their wills, here in the US or elsewhere?

5. LET’S LOOK AT THE BIOLOGY

6. An egg is not an embryo, and an embryo is not even a fetus! First Week – blastocyst implants about day 7.

7. Embryonic development 5 weeks 7 weeks 61% of abortions occur before 9 weeks.

8. Fetal development 10 week 12 week 89% of abortions are within the first trimester.

9. A fetus is not a baby It is a clump of cells with only the potential to become a human being. It is not a separate life from the life of the woman in whose uterus it resides. It cannot survive on its own. It gets oxygen and nutrients from the woman’s blood and excretes waste through the woman. And this is true until it is born (“breaths its first breath”) to become a baby. It is no more an independent human being than any other organ or part of a woman’s body.

10. Second Trimester 14 week fetus 20 week fetus A fetus cannot survive outside of the uterus until 21 weeks – and then only with a great deal of technological support.

11. Every picture you see of a fetus leaves out the woman who is carrying it. The changes that are taking place occur only because the woman’s physiology is making these changes happen.

12. 2004 from www.guttmacher.com

13. Why do women get late term abortions?

14. Difficulty getting an abortion 87% of all U.S. counties do not have abortion providers. Most women needing 2nd and 3rd trimester abortions live in these rural areas.

15. The number of hospitals providing abortion services has greatly diminished since 1980. Number of Providers Source: Finer and Henshaw, 2003

16. Number of trained Doctors has decreased: Nationally: 1982 2,908 doctors 2005 1,787 doctors State examples: Mississippi 1 clinic Kansas 2 clinics 57% of all ob/gyns who perform abortion are 50 years of age or older.

17. Another reason women have difficulty getting abortions are restrictive laws. Example: Mississippi has one abortion clinic in Jackson, Mississippi. A state law (1992) requires a woman to receive in person information about the fetus and “alternatives” to abortion and then wait at least 24 hours before getting an abortion. When this law was passed late term abortions increased by 53%.

18. Fake clinics

19. “THE PILL” first became available in 1960 Roe vs Wade passed in 1973 The pill + legal abortion = Reproductive Freedom Reproductive freedom for women came in response to the movements of the 60’s.

20. It is long past due that rational women, not swayed by mythology and mysticism that was written by men, re-seize the moral high ground and the initiative on this issue.

21. What is the so-called moral high ground of the anti-abortionists? They say they are saving babies… But what is this really about?

22. American Life League Mission Statement: “A.L.L. denies the moral acceptability of artificial birth control and encourages each individual (each woman) to trust in God, to surrender to His will, and be pre-disposed to welcoming children.”

23. Pro-life Encyclopedia “Contraception cannot be separated from abortion. In fact, anyone who debates the topic of abortion will inevitably be drawn to the topic of artificial contraception over and over again, especially in the post-Roe era of pro-life activism…How does contraception lead to abortion? Quite simply, they are virtually indistinguishable in the psychological, physical and legal sense…those individuals who use artificial contraception take the critical step of separating sex from procreation. Contraception not abortion was the first step down the slippery slope.”

24. The Army of God (AOG) • Advocates the murder of abortion providers. • The manual contains not only strong anti-abortion sentiments but also anti-government and anti-gay/lesbian language. • Murder is justified in the name of God. • Is this what it is to be Christian?

25. Dr. David Gunnshot in front ofabortion clinic Michael Griffin First to murder an abortion doctor on March 10, 1993

26. On July 29, 1994murderedDr. Britton and Bodyguard Paul Hill “American Hero” Saved “innocent babies from being murdered by babykilling abortionist”

27. John Salvi III December 30, 1994 Followed in Paul Hill’s foot steps by: Murdering Shannon Lowney and Lee Ann Nichols.

28. Killed Robert Sanderson and injuredEmily Lyons Eric Rudolph Bombed abortion clinic on January 29, 1998

29. James Kopp On October 23, 1998 Dr. Bernard Slepian Was shot in his home in New York.

30. Dr. Tiller was murdered on May 31, 2009 by Scott Roeder

31. A thousand people attended Dr. Tiller’s funeral

32. Legislation making a fetus, an embryo, and even a fertilized egg a person. Fetal homocide laws – 34 states

33. Supreme Court Appointments • Roberts' confirmation as chief justice 2005. • Samuel Alito was confirmed to the Supreme Court, 2006. Both are Opposed to Roe vs Wade.

34. Bush signs the “Partial Birth Abortion” Act in 2003

35. Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2004 Laci Conner Law “When a crime of violence against a pregnant woman kills or injures her unborn child, there are two victims.”George W. Bush

36. Health Insurance for the Fetus – not the pregnant woman 1-30-02 – State Children’s Health Insurance Program – SCHIP States can classify a fertilized egg as an “unborn child” eligible for coverage under the SCHIP, rather than allowing coverage of pregnant women under the program.

37. Woman charged with murder for refusing c-section • Melissa Rowland, aged 28, was charged with murder in Salt Lake City, Utah, following a stillbirth. Prosecutors accused her of "depraved indifference to human life" after she allegedly failed to undergo a caesarean section when pregnant with twins.

38. Wrongful death • Illinois Judge Rules That a Couple Can File Wrongful Death Suit Over an Accidentally Discarded Embryo Feb 2005 Todd Parrish and Alison Miller

39. Laws on birth control Laws have been passed in South Dakota, Arkansas, Mississippi and elsewhere that legally allow pharmacists to refuse to fill birth control prescriptions.

40. What does Obama say about abortion?

41. Obama has said: • “Abortion is never good.” • He made the point of distinguishing himself from those “who suggest that this (abortion) is simply an issue about women’s freedom and that there’s no other considerations.”

43. The movement to forcibly deny women the right to abortion and birth control is a movement to enslave women. With its aims, its methods, and its morality, there can be no compromise. ‘Common ground’ can only exist if one side capitulates to the other.

44. The Pro-Choice Movement • Did not stand with the abortion providers. • The Feminist Majority did not attend Dr. Tiller’s funeral. • S. Dakota ban – they didn’t condemn it, but said it went too far by failing to make exception for rape, incest and the life of the woman. • Planned Parenthood and the Feminist Majority cancelled a “Day of Action”.

45. The current situation is NOT good. • Recent Gallop poll indicated 51% in US identify as “pro-life vs 42% as pro-choice, an attitude resulting from lies and propaganda by right wing extremists. • 22% think abortion should be outlawed in all cases. • 23% think abortion should be allowed in all cases.

46. “The real problem is that for decades the lunatic Christian fascists have consistently mobilized while the pro-choice ‘movement’ has remained largely passive and straitjacketed in the Democratic Party’s dynamic of capitulation.” • Barbara Shank

47. “What ‘common ground’ can there be with a movement whose aim is to enslave women to reproduction and force them to bear children against their wills?” • √Barbara Shank

48. The morality we need: Break down all barriers to women being full participants in every sphere of society, to the full liberation of women as a part of liberating all of humanity. There is a need for voices of clarity and conscience from people who make it clear that women are not simply incubators!

49. It is time for women who have had abortions to speak out defiantly – to lift the shame and to challenge the stigma.

50. We need to RE polarize It is time to go back into the streets.