0,000 march in S.Flito defend right to choose

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Keep 1bortion Safe, Legal &-Accessible Weare the majorit SOCIALIST ACTION MAY 1989 9 SAN FRANCISCO—Despite ominouslooking clouds which threatened rain at any moment, over 30,000 people came out to march and rally here on April 2 to defend abortion rights. Billed as the March for Women's Lives/Women's Equality, it was the largest pro-choice demonstration in San Francisco history.

The day-long event was organized by the April 2 Committee, a coalition that included the National Organization for Women (NOW); Planned Parenthood, Calif. Abortion Rights Action League (CARAL); Coalition of Labor Union Women; Bay Area Black Women's Health Project; American Civil Liberties Union; Bay Area Coalition Against Operation Rescue (BACAOR); and many other women's rights organizations. Over 100 organizations endorsed the march.

The demonstration was called to augment and build the April 9 march in Washington, D.C., and provide an action for West Coast pro-choice supporters who couldn't attend that historic mobilization.

Significantly, the April 2 demonstration was endorsed and actively supported by a large number of trade unions, some of whom contributed money to publicize the event. These included the California Teachers Association (CTA); California Federation of Teachers (CFT); International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU); American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; among others.

The union contingents, including striking Eastern Airlines flight attendants, received enthusiastic applause from onlookers as they marched up Market Street-the city's main commercial thoroughfare.

The catalyst for the demonstration was the upcoming Supreme Court decision on Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, a Missouri case that can reverse the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision which legalized abortion. This case involves a Missouri law which states that "the life of each human being begins at conception" and applies strict limits to access to abortion.

Another factor which contributed to the size of the April 2 demonstration is the increased attacks against abortion clinics by the misnamed Operation Rescue forces, who blockade access to family planning centers. Locally, confrontations have occurred between these right-wing anti-choice fanatics and pro-choice forces.

Many marchers were also responding to the continued attacks on the rights of poor women to obtain abortions. The April 2 Committee publicized the fact that Medicaid does not pay for abortions in 37 states, leaving poor women with few choices.

First demonstration for many The composition of the 30,000 marchers reflected new forces that want to defeat the government-inspired right-wing attack against abortion rights.

People from as far south as San Diego, and as far north as Portland, Ore., converged on San Francisco for the April 2 march. For many, it was their first participation in a April 2 Committes public protest. By far the largest and most militant group present were young women. They have no desire to experience first hand the horrors of the "back-alley" abortions that prevailed when abortion was illegal-and potentially fatal.

"Keep Abortion Safe and Legal!""Abortion: A Woman's Right to Choose!" and "Never Again, We Won't Go Back!" were the phrases chanted and the signs held aloft by thousands of young women as they marched and rallied. About one-third of the demonstrators were men.

Civic Center rally

As marchers poured into the Civic Center for a spirited rally, they responded to appeals for donations by depositing nearly $16,000 into barrels held by monitors.

The array of speakers on the stage were representative of the broad support that exists for the right to choose. Major speakers included Holly Near, who also provided The following is an abridged version of the speech by Sylvia Weinstein at the April 2 San Francisco rally for Women's Lives/Women's Equality. Weinstein is a staff writer for Socialist Action newspaper and was the 1988 socialist candidate for the San Francisco Board of Education. Her speech was received enthusiastically by the assembled crowd.

WE ARE THE MAJORITY! And I'll tell you I'm very glad to see some politicians on this stage. I want them to look out there and see that we are the majority! But what I want them to do is go back into the legislature and fight for our rights. They don't have to talk to us about our rights. We know our rights.

What I want them to do is act on our rights.

You know, last month the Senate confirmed [Dr. Louis) Sullivan as the head of the Health and Human Services Department. The title alone is enough to LUEL Joseph Ryan/Socialist Action entertainment; Nomonde Ngubo, international representative of the United Mineworkers of America; Frances Kissling, Catholics for a Free Choice; and Patricia Ireland, vicepresident-executive of NOW.

Other speakers included Nancy Walker, member of the S.F. Board of Supervisors and board member of CARAL; Tandy Isles, Black Women's Health Project; Luz Alvarez Martinez, Nat'l Latina Health Organization; Willie Brown, Calif. State Assemblyman; Rabbi Dan Dorfman, Hillel Foundation; Merle Woo, Radical Women; Pat Norman, a lesbian rights activist; and Sylvia Weinstein, Socialist Action columnist [see speech on this page].

During the rally, hundreds of people signed up at various tables to volunteer for future pro-choice activities, including the defense of abortion clinics.

Operation Rescue bragged that they would strike at clinics in the Bay Area on April 29. But after they were outmobilized by more make you puke. This man, who is now the head of health and human services, wants to do away with Roe v. Wade!— which is probably the most important health and human service that women have ever won in this country.

And not one, not one liberal, not one Democrat, and only one Republican, voted against this bum. Not one said: "Hey Sullivan, you're opposed to Roe v.

Wade; we're not going to support you for that office!" The only vote against Sullivan came from Jesse Helms [RN.C.J. And he didn't vote for him because he thought that !!nmen shouldn't get abortions even in the case of incest, rape, or death.

I know what illegal abortions are. I went through two of them. And I would love to see Jesse Helms walk into an empty apartment on Staten Island and have the local Midas man give him a vasectomy. than 1000 pro-choice activists at the clinics, Operation Rescue withdrew to Sacramento, where they picketed a clinic that was already closed for the day.

At least 100 Bay Area pro-choice activists followed the right-wingers to Sacramento, where they joined other activists defending the clinics.

The coalition also held a rally of close to 500 people at the S.F. Federal Building on Wednesday, April 26, the day the Supreme Court heard arguments in the Webster v. Reproductive Health Services case.

For more information call (415) 255-1989.

Joseph Ryan/Socialist Action I want to talk about the government's drug policy. They're drugging us to death! I want Bush to "Just Say No" to Exxon! I want him to say "NO" to the pesticides they're putting in the air, in the water, in our children's food. And I want him to say no to the pesticide of Operation Rescue. I want the government officials to know: WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THOSE CRIMINALS BLOCKING OUR CLINICS AND BLOCKING OUR RIGHTS! If we have to do it, we'll remove them ourselves.

Now listen. This is the beginning. This is not the end. This march of 30,000 people is the beginning. Go out there and sign up for defense of our clinics. There are tables out there. Join the National Organization for Women [NOW], join NARAL, CARAL, whatever you can. Join us and fight. We're together in this. WE ARE THE MAJORITY IN THIS! WE AIN'T GONNA LOSE!

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Choice "ABORTION ROE CANT G ELEGAL NARAL 'Keep the clinics open!' Choicel

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