Huge D.C. rally for abortion rights
1986 1986-04Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 2 →
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2 SOCIALIST ACTION APRIL 1986 racist attacks and U.S. foreign policy. One slogan chanted on the march was "Money for contraception, not contra aid."
Representatives of the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights and the National Abortion Rights Action League joined politicians and entertainers on the speakers platform at the U.S. Capitol.
Many speakers pointed to the recent falls of Duvalier and Marcos and the struggle in South Africa. Bella Abzug blasted the "bloated Pentagon budget while women and children go hungry." Urging demonstrators to continue their efforts, she referred to the impact of the anti-Vietnam War and civil rights demonstrations.
Ellie Smeal, NOW President, was the major speaker. She echoed the sentiments of the crowd when she said:
"The numbers game is over. The silent majority will be silent no more...We knew the time had come for women to stand up and be counted for women's lives...Our message is simple: stop playing with our lives...It's about time we show our numbers...This is just the beginning. The women's movement is on the move.' Smeal referred to the negative impact of U.S. foreign policy on women throughout the world. "Some say they march for lives, while their policies lead to death and destruction."
Smeal said NOW would not limit its concern to abortion rights but would "go on to all other dreams of human rights." She continued, "We will forget no people. Women in Los banner We won't trade off one right for another."
Smeal answered those who feel nothing can be achieved while Reagan is in office by challenging the demonstrators to build a movement so powerful it can't be ignored. To those who doubt the possibility of doing so, she explained that Reagan, when he was governor of California, was pressured into signing into law one of the best state abortion laws.
Smeal stated that legal abortion is a fundamental necessity for a quality of life worth living. Both veteran NOW members and high-school women on their first march left with a renewed commitment to continue the fight to assure all women access to safe, legal abortion.
march for abortion rights Angeles. (Photo above) at Washington rally. the church, not the state, women will decide our fate!" They were greeted by a thunderous rendition of "We are the World," sung in affirmation of women's deter -mination to secure legal abortion and all women's rights.
Marchers stood in inches of mud and a continuing downpour to listen to short speeches by NOW President Ellie Smeal; Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley; actors Jane Fonda, Robert Foxworth, Morgan Fairchild, and Ed Asner; various elected officials; Coalition of Labor Union Women President Ruth Miller; and several others. •
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KEEP YOUK LAWS reer YOUK LAW OFF OUR BODIES!