Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy

In passing a law today that bans all abortions except when the life of the woman is at stake, South Dakota legislators gave right-wing zealots what they have been waiting for since the 1992 Casey decision: another shot at Roe v. Wade. That landmark decision recognized a woman’s fundamental right to privacy in deciding whether to continue her pregnancy.

By a vote of 50-18 in the House and 23-12 in the Senate, state lawmakers virtually assured a legal battle that will reach the Supreme Court. And given the current breakdown of the High Court, whose two newest justices have a history of opposition to women’s rights, the outcome could well be a reversal of Roe.

Every Senator who did not filibuster the Supreme Court nomination of Sam Alito to replace Sandra Day O’Connor will share responsibility for what follows.

-February 22, 2006
Today the Supreme Court announced that it will consider the constitution-ality of a federal abortion procedure ban — a law identical in effect to the Nebraska ban that was struck down by the Court in 2000 because it didn’t protect women’s health. We will soon learn whether the High Court’s two newest justices are as devoted to precedent as they say they are, or whether their visceral opposition to abortion will lead them to overturn a clear precedent after only six years.

The new case, Gonzales v. Carhart, concerns the same doctor, the same state, and the same issues as Stenberg v. Carhart in 2000, when Dr. Leroy Carhart challenged a Nebraska law that banned certain vaguely-defined abortion procedures without including any exception for a woman whose health is at risk.

The Court’s narrow 5-4 opinion in that 2000 case found the law unconstitutional. That precedent in Stenberg was the reason three federal courts of appeal have declared this federal ban unconstitutional as well. The outcome in this case could be different because now-retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who cast the deciding vote in Stenberg, has been replaced by an opponent of abortion.

Not only will we find out whether our new justices are committed to “stare decisis” and settled law — as Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito recently assured senators they are — but we will also see whether their opposition to abortion means they will force doctors to violate their Hippocratic oath, putting the desires of Congress above their medical duty to put their patients’ health first.

“This isn’t the first time Congress has tried to practice medicine without a license, but if this ban is upheld, it will be the first time the Supreme Court has allowed them to do so,” said NOW President Kim Gandy. “Will Congress be allowed to deprive you of the medical procedure your doctor says is safest for your particular circumstances?”

(Providence, RI) — Senator Lincoln Chafee’s vote against the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court is, quote, “a hollow vote,” according to the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization for Women. Spokesperson Carolyn Mark complains that Chafee’s vote became meaningless when he decided not to support a filibuster to extend debate and ultimately block a vote. Donna Fishman of the Rhode Island Coalition for Affirmative Action accuses Chafee of a political ploy, and charges the moderate Republican has failed to protect the civil rights of women. And, Cathy Speer of the Rhode Island division of the American Association of University Women accuses Chafee of, quote, “trying to have it both ways.” She says his vote against confirmation doesn’t matter, but he would not support a filibuster where his vote might have mattered.

January 30, 2006

Providence – In the wake of Senator Chafee’s announcement that he will not support a filibuster but will vote against the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, several Rhode Island organizations had mixed reactions. Senator Chafee joins Senator Reed in opposing Judge Alito, but Senator Reed has indicated he will vote to sustain the filibuster..

The Rhode Island National Organization for Women (RI NOW) applauds Senator Reed for putting more than words into action to support the 500,000 plus women living in Rhode Island. Last week Senator Reed took a principled stand against the nomination of Samuel Alito by indicating his intent to vote no on the nomination. Senator Reed then put the full force of his office behind his words by signaling his intention to support the filibuster of a nominee who will most certainly be opposed to protecting the liberties that women have earned through centuries of struggle.

“This nominee is opposed to women’s rights on every count,” Carolyn Mark, RI NOW Vice President for Membership said. “His record is 20 years long. He was the architect of a plan to overturn Roe v. Wade. He has repeatedly ignored privacy rights. He made it infinitely harder to bring claims of sex discrimination and sexual harassment. Senator Chafee’s decision not to use every tool available to senators to extend debate and ultimately block the nomination of Samuel Alito makes his no vote a hollow vote. RI NOW is very clear on this - a no vote does nothing to protect our liberties and our rights, as women and as Rhode Islanders. The filibuster is our only option and it is every senator’s right to use it. Shrinking from a fight will only weaken us for the next one.”

The RI division of the American Association of University Women was also critical of Senator Chafee. “It appears to the American Association of University Women that Senator Chafee is trying to have it both ways,” said Cathy Speer. “He is voting against confirmation when it is clear his vote won’t matter but will not support a filibuster when it might easily matter. With 56 senators already declaring their support for Judge Alito, what good is Senator Chafee’s opposition to Alito if he will not do what it takes to stop him?”

“This is a critical moment in American history, and Senator Chafee has failed us,” said Donna Fishman of the Rhode Island Coalition for Affirmative Action. “A seat on the Supreme Court is a lifetime appointment. The conservatives now have a lock on this institution, and we can look forward to years of decisions that erode the gains we’ve made on civil rights and social justice over the last three decades. We expected leadership from Senator Chafee. What we got was a political ploy.”

RI Choice Activists had all hoped that because the anniversary of Roe v. Wade is on Sunday the anti-choice activists would cancel their funeral procession to Providence area clinics (which are
closed on Sundays).

No such luck. On Saturday, January 21 they are expecting 100 cars led by the Providence and Cranston police and a hearse containing a white casket to depart from the Broad Street entrance to Roger Williams Park at 10am to lay funeral wreaths at the Women’s Medical Center, 1725 Broad Street, Cranston; Women & Infants Hospital, 101 Dudley Street, Providence; and Planned Parenthood of RI, 111 Point
Street, Providence.

Please join us at 10am at 1725 Broad Street to lend our voices in support of a women’s right to choose, and to prevent them from
laying their wreath (this is a NON-VIOLENT protest - we just pick
the wreath up if they lay it). A group of us will also be hopping in
our cars to do the same at the other locations.

Hope to see you on Saturday, as well as on Sunday at 6pm at the 2:1 Coalition Roe v. Wade event at Julian’s Restaurant in Providence.

Replacing Sandra Day O’Connor with Samuel Alito would set women back decades. Alito’s vote would tip the Court’s balance on many issues and take us back to the days:

- when sexual harassment and sex discrimination were “all in a day’s work” for women;

-when women were routinely excluded from law schools, medical schools and elite colleges;

-when there were no female firefighters, and no women on the police force;

-when women could be fired for becoming pregnant, or getting married;

-when employment ads were divided into “Help Wanted - Male” and “Help Wanted - Female;”

-when illegal, unsafe abortions, were the norm, and reliable birth control was outlawed as well.

We are determined not to turn back the clock.

Join National NOW’s campaign to save the Court and women’s rights. Visit NOW’s Enraged and Engaged campaign for more information.

To read about what’s happening in Rhode Island, visit www.rifj.org
Providence Journal article
Pawtucket Times article

A group of us is going to view the film “North Country” at the Showcase Cinemas Warwick (NOT the mall!) on Thursday, October 27 at 7:05pm (1200 Quaker Lane at the intersection of Route 2 and Division St; I-95 Exit 8A or 9A.)

This is a great opportunity to get together, have some fun, and discuss an important issue that is, unfortunately, still with us today. Following the movie, we’ll head across the street to Ruby Tuesdays for drink and conversation.

Here’s a synopsis of the film:

When Josey Aimes returns to her hometown in Northern Minnesota after a failed marriage, she needs a good job. A single mother with two children, she turns to the predominant source of employment in the region–the iron mines. The mines provide a livelihood that has sustained a community for generations. It’s an industry long dominated by men, in a place unaccustomed to change. Encouraged by her old friend Glory, one of the few female miners in town, Josey joins the ranks of those laboring to blast ore from rock in the gaping quarries. She is prepared for the back-breaking and often dangerous work, but coping with the harassment she and the other female miners encounter from their male coworkers proves far more challenging. The last thing the miners want is women competing for scarce jobs–women who, in their estimation, have no business driving trucks and hauling rock anyway. When Josey speaks out against the reatment she and her fellow workers face she is met with resistance–not only from those in power but from a community that doesn’t want to hear the truth, her disapproving parents and many of her own colleagues who fear she is only making things worse. In time, even her friendship with Glory will be tested, her already difficult connection with her father, a lifelong miner, will be pushed to its limit and elements of her personal life exposed to scrutiny. The fallout from Josey’s battle to make a better future for herself and her children will affect every aspect of her life, including her relationship with her young daughter and her
sensitive teenage son, who must first cope with the embarrassment of his
mother’s sudden notoriety and then face harsh details of her past she was hoping he would never have to know. Through these struggles Josey will find the courage to stand up for what she believes in–even if that means standing alone.

PRESS RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 21, 2005

**Press Release**

Rhode Island NOW Condemns Senator Chafee for Support of John Roberts’ Confirmation

PROVIDENCE - Today, Senator Chafee has publicly stated that he will support Judge John Roberts’ confirmation to replace Justice Rehnquist as Chief Justice of the United States. “Senator Chafee has made the wrong decision in choosing to support this anti-choice, anti-civil rights and anti-environment nominee,” said Meaghan Lamarre, President of the Rhode Island National Organization for Women.

“While it may be true that replacing a conservative with a conservative won’t shift the balance of the Court,” continued Lamarre, “we believe that as a supporter of women’s reproductive rights, it was Senator Chafee’s duty to oppose a nominee who believes that Roe v. Wade should be overturned.”

“Senator Chafee has defended himself by saying that his party calls it ‘a smart move’”, Lamarre went on to say, “but we think he would do well to stick to his own pro-choice values, and those of the Rhode Islanders who elected him, rather than towing the party line.”

Lamarre concluded, “By ignoring the dangers of Judge Roberts’ record, Senator Chafee has failed pro-choice Rhode Islanders and we will remember this in November.”

RI NOW Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 29, 2005

Rhode Island NOW (RI NOW) joins activists across the country today in a nationwide day of action, demanding that emergency contraception (EC) be made available to all women, without a prescription.

“It is disappointing, to say the least, that after promising a decision on this matter by September 1, the FDA has yet again delayed its decision on broadening access to EC,” said Meaghan Lamarre, President of RI NOW, “and it is disturbing that any forthcoming decision to make EC available over-the-counter will exclude women under the age of 17. EC is a proven safe and effective method of preventing unplanned pregnancy, and should be available to all women without restrictions.”

“Given the recent incident of a pharmacist at a CVS in Coventry refusing to fill a prescription for Plan B,” continued Lamarre, “Rhode Islanders are especially concerned about women’s unrestricted access to emergency contraception. As we wait for a clarification of CVS’s policy on this issue, we are reminded of how important it is that the FDA allow EC to be sold over-the-counter.”

NOW’s actions on August 30 are part of the organization’s long term commitment to accessible, affordable and comprehensive women’s health care. Emergency contraception is safe and legal birth control. If taken within 24-72 hours after rape, unwanted sexual activity or birth control failure, women can dramatically reduce their odds of facing an abortion or unwanted pregnancy. NOW demands that the FDA promote and protect our health and safety, not the political whims of the White House, the pharmaceutical industry, or anti-women politicians.

Take Action:

• Call the FDA, general comment line: 1-888-463-6332
• Call the office of FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford 301-827-2410
• Call the Office of Women’s Health 301-827-0350

Call or Email the New England Regional Office of the FDA

• Joseph Raulinaitis (508) 793-0422, Joseph.Raulinaitis@fda.hhs.gov
• Susan Small (781) 596-7779, Susan.Small@fda.hhs.gov
• Mary B. Yebba (781) 596-7779, Mary.Yebba@fda.hhs.gov

Read more in the following statement from Kim Gandy:

Statement of National Organization for Women President Kim Gandy

The National Organization for Women calls on women’s health advocates to join in a National Day of Action on Tuesday, August 30, protesting the decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding emergency contraception (EC).

Today’s announcement by the FDA, on Women’s Equality Day no less, is insulting on so many levels that I hardly know where to begin.

First, FDA commissioner Lester Crawford lied to the United States Senate to achieve his confirmation to this post. Senators Patty Murray and Hillary Clinton had put a hold on his nomination, and released their hold (thus enabling his confirmation) after his absolute assurance that the FDA would finally make a decision on non-prescription availability of emergency contraception by September 1.

Second, despite years of study, despite strong support from the FDA’s professional staff, despite extensive public hearings and commentary, and despite the near-unanimous recommendations of not one but two FDA advisory panels, this newly appointed Commissioner has again delayed women’s access to emergency contraception (EC) — and with the lame excuse that they need more time for “public comment.”

Third, the one thing that was made clear in today’s announcement is that women under 17 will be left out altogether, and this time the excuse is even more ridiculous: that the “target” users will not be able to understand the directions. Since Plan B consists only of two small white pills, and the directions are to take one pill after unprotected intercourse (within 5 days) and to take the second pill 12 hours after the first one, it is apparent that any teenager with 6th grade reading ability could follow these directions. My 12-year-old daughter could follow those directions easily. And even if the directions weren’t followed properly, EC is extremely safe — so there would be no adverse health consequences to justify extreme measures to keep it out of the hands of young women.

So the FDA’s “reason” is merely an excuse to deny young women access to the means to prevent pregnancy, and at a time in their lives when an unwanted pregnancy would wreak havoc on their young lives and limit their future. And if a young woman can’t understand such a simple label, do we honestly think that the alternative should be motherhood?

Finally, the FDA says it is not making EC available without prescription to women 17 and over because they can’t figure out how to prevent access to those under 17. C’mon — as if they haven’t seen drugstores deal with alcohol, cigarettes, and the nicotine patch for years. This is just another in a long line of decisions that make women’s health secondary to right-wing politics. This administration is determined to turn the FDA into an arm of the Republican Party - carrying out the fondest desires of Bush allies who oppose women’s use of contraception.