Jim Baron 08/12/2005 Pawtucket Times

PROVIDENCE — Chanting “Save Roe, Vote No,” a handful of abortion rights activists rallied at Kennedy Plaza in protest of President George W. Bush’s nomination of Judge John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“We are here today because we believe in women’s reproductive rights,” said Meaghan Lamarre, Action Vice President of Rhode Island National Organization for Women (RI NOW). “We are here today because we recognize that those rights are under attack, and we are here today to fight back.”

With the resignation last month of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Lamarre said, speaking through a bullhorn, “we are in a state of emergency when it comes to abortion rights.”

She called on U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Lincoln Chafee, whom she referred to as “Rhode Island’s two pro-choice senators,” to vote against Roberts when he comes to the Senate for confirmation.

“Rather than appoint a moderate Justice in the mold of Sandra Day O’Connor, President Bush chose to appoint a partisan extremist,” Lamarre said, warning that Roberts would “overturn Roe and send us back to the days of dangerous back-alley abortions.” Roe v. Wade is the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

One of the signs held briefly by a protester carried a drawing of a coathanger inside a red circle with a diagonal line through it, similar to a no-smoking sign.

The rally, held during the afternoon rush hour, was sponsored by the RI Chapter of the National Organization for Women and 2 to1: The Coalition to Preserve Choice.

“It’s a scary time for pro-choice people,” said Hilary Markoe, president of 2 to 1. “Roberts is bad news.”

Markoe said that nationally, Rhode Island is considered “high risk” for outlawing abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, “or so severely restricting it that it would be, in effect, unobtainable.”

Another possibility, she said, is that “within 12 months, it would become a statewide legal battle, which is bad news, considering the Governor is anti-choice, the Senate is anti-choice and the House is anti-choice. If it becomes a legal battle in Rhode Island, pro-choice women are sure to lose.”

If abortion were outlawed in Rhode Island, Markoe said, women in the state would be faced with an array of bad choices:

“They could try to do an abortion themselves, which could lead to death or permanent sterility; they could obtain an illegal abortion, a dangerous and potentially deadly choice; they could keep the unwanted child, which could lead to increased teenaged mothers, child abuse and poverty, or they could travel to get an abortion in a state where abortion wa still legal, which for many women is just unrealistic.”

Jennifer Lawless, a candidate for Congress in the 2nd District, challenging pro-life incumbent James Langevin for the Democratic nomination, declared that, “the right to privacy is under the most ardent attack we have seen in decades.” She asserted that Langevin, the only pro-life legislator in Rhode Island’s Washington DC delegation, “voted against reproductive freedom 26 times.

After the rally, Lawless told The Times that “no one issue” should decide whether someone is qualified for a seat on the court, but that abortion rights should be one of those that is considered.

Lamarre agreed, saying Thursday’s rally was called to highlight abortion rights but that Roberts’ “record is scary in other areas,” including the environment and civil rights.

“His record shows he is in the pocket of conservatives,” Markoe said. “He said he wasn’t a member of the Federalist Society (a conservative lawyer’s group) but he was a member of the steering committee. So right from the get-go, he is a liar.”

©The Pawtucket Times 2005

From Cox.net …

(Providence, RI) - Pro-choice advocates are urging members of the U.S. Senate to vote against any Supreme Court nominee who is likely to help overturn Roe versus Wade. At a Kennedy Plaza rally last evening Meaghan Lamarre and other members of the Rhode Island National Organiation for Women said that includes current Bush nominee John Roberts because he argued against Roe versus Wade in the past. Lamarre says Sandra Day O’Connor represented a key swing vote when the case was last challenged and upheld by a 5 to 4 margin. She says a recently conducted poll shows a majority of Americans want O’Connor’s replacement to be someone who will also uphold Roe versus Wade.

Thursday, August 11, 2005
5:30-6:00pm
Kenneday Plaza, Downtown Providence

Join us as we rally for our reproductive rights, as we talk about the fragility of Roe v. Wade, and share our concerns about Judge Roberts’ nomination to the Supreme Court.

Poster-making party on Wednesday, August 10, 2005. 6:30pm at the offices of 2to1: the Coalition to Preserve Choice, 1192 Westminster Street, Providence.

The former governor decries “special-interest groups . . . trying to drum up opposition” to Supreme Court pick John G. Roberts.

Saturday, July 23, 2005

BY LIZ ANDERSON
Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE — Former Gov. Lincoln Almond will chair a new Rhode Island-based coalition to champion the confirmation of Judge John G. Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The group’s mission, several members said, is to press the U.S. Senate to give Roberts a fair and timely hearing and an up-or-down vote.

Almond, reached by telephone at his summer home on Cape Cod, said he was recruited by his former director of legislative affairs, Denevan O’Connell, who knew of Almond’s concern that President Bush’s nominee could face a filibuster in the Senate.

“The filibuster has its place, but not with advise and consent,” said Almond, a former U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island.

“I think the president deserves to have a candidate confirmed who is well qualified, and I think a lot of the special-interest groups are out there trying to drum up opposition [to Roberts], and I just don’t think that’s appropriate,” the former governor added.

O’Connell’s government-relations firm — Gildea, O’Connell and Darlington — is being paid to serve as the local contact for Progress for America, a national conservative advocacy group that, according to media reports, expects to spend $18 million promoting Roberts’ candidacy for the high court.

But O’Connell said the new group, Rhode Islanders for Judge Roberts, was not a Progress for America affiliate and would not be receiving financial support from the national group or spending money on a local campaign.

He described the group instead as an “ad hoc” organization put together by a group of people, including former East Providence Senate candidate Lloyd Monroe, who have “overlapping goals” with his client.

Monroe, a Republican and former federal prosecutor, said the group was organized by “a small group of us who decided we wanted to support this nominee.”

“Obviously my involvement arises as a result of talking with other people who are attorneys, and who also have been involved in Republican Party stuff,” he said.

Monroe called Roberts an “exceptionally well-qualified candidate” who “personifies the qualities the American people deserve in a Supreme Court [justice].”

The Rhode Island group, he said, plans to release a list of members soon; Monroe said his hope was to show broad and bipartisan support. He said the steering committee would also include lawyers Eugene Bernardo II, Thomas Wigand and Joseph White, besides himself and Almond.

Bernardo told reporters in an afternoon conference call that he believed the confirmation process should focus on a candidate’s legal intellect, fairness, integrity, temperament, and ability to impartially apply the law.

He said his concern was that Roberts would get caught in “a pernicious rush to demonize whoever the nominee is, for whatever reasons.”

But Almond said that what activities the group would undertake would depend on how Roberts’ candidacy proceeds. Right now, he said, there are indications that the nomination may not face strong Senate opposition.

Meanwhile, another Rhode Island group formed to watch the Supreme Court nomination process — Rhode Islanders for a Fair Judiciary — is warily evaluating the president’s choice.

“We are extremely concerned about the nominee,” said Marti Rosenberg. But she said the group, a coalition of more than 20 advocacy organizations, was still researching Roberts’ background.

“We hope the senators ask the tough questions that really really need to be asked and pursue them until they get the answers,” Rosenberg said.

At least one Rhode Island group in the coalition has formally opposed Roberts’ nomination. The local chapter of the National Organization of Women this week called Roberts “an extremist with no commitment to the basic values of individual and civil rights for which we have fought so hard.”

[Press Release by RINOW July 20, 2005]

Contact: Emily Rochon, 401-965-6081 or Meaghan Lamarre, 401-225-3543
For immediate release.

Last night, President Bush announced the nomination of John G. Roberts to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the Supreme Court. President Bush began his remarks by commenting that the appointment of a Supreme Court justice is one of the most consequential decisions a President can make. Rhode Island NOW wholeheartedly agrees and that is why we strongly oppose the nomination of Judge John G. Roberts.

As O’Connor’s replacement, Roberts could cast the deciding vote on countless matters of individual rights where O’Connor had been a key vote, often in a 5 to 4 split — issues like abortion and birth control, affirmative action, privacy rights, disability rights, Title IX equal educational opportunity, family and medical leave, health care, environmental protection and dozens of other crucial issues for decades to come. For young women, Roberts’ votes could determine their access to birth control and abortion for their entire reproductive lifetimes.

Among our many concerns, Roberts actively opposes Roe v. Wade and wrote several amicus briefs while a Deputy Solicitor General. He has argued that “Roe was wrongly decided and should be overruled.” He also wrote an amicus brief supporting Operation Rescue, arguing in support of individuals who routinely blocked access to clinics.

In addition to his active opposition to a woman’s right to choose, Judge Roberts has also argued to limit the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the scope of the Endangered Species act, challenged affirmative action programs, and argued against Title IX.

We had high hopes for this nomination: we had hoped for another woman to replace Justice O’Connor and we had hoped for a moderate, centrist nominee who would unite the country in these divided times. However, President Bush has chosen an extremist with no commitment to the basic values of individual and civil rights for which we have fought so hard. With this nomination, President Bush has chosen to pick a fight and we intend to fight back.

The Providence Journal (Rhode Island)

July 6, 2005 Wednesday
All Editions

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A-11

LENGTH: 378 words

HEADLINE: Supreme Court vacancy spurs on activists

BYLINE: ELIZABETH GUDRAIS, Journal Staff Writer

BODY:

The leader of a rally in Providence says, “It’s critical that we not allow our court to be taken over by right-wing conservatives.”

PROVIDENCE - Four dozen people gathered yesterday in front of the federal building on Kennedy Plaza to tell Rhode Island’s senators that they’ll be watching when the Senate considers the president’s nominee for the Supreme Court vacancy.

“Almost every aspect of our lives is impacted by the decisions that the Supreme Court makes,” the rally’s leader, Karen Malcolm, associate director of Ocean State Action, said into a bullhorn. “It’s critical that we not allow our court to be taken over by right-wing conservatives.”

The demonstrators shouted over the din of honking horns and buses zooming by.

“The Supreme Court is our last line of defense,” said Jennifer Tuttle, program coordinator of the Sierra Club’s Rhode Island chapter, adding that the Bush administration had “the worst environmental record in history.”

“We are the generation born after Roe [v. Wade],” Meaghan Lamarre, president of the National Organization for Women’s Providence chapter, said. “We have never lived in a world where women did not have reproductive choice.”

Her comments gave way to chants of “We won’t go back! We will fight back!”

Frank Ferri, co-chair of Marriage Equality Rhode Island, said his concern over the Supreme Court nomination did not center on the issue of same-sex marriage, but rather on a wider protection of individual freedoms. He called for the Senate to hold out for appointment of a justice who would bring “objectivity and moderation” to the court.

The rally’s organizers have dubbed themselves Rhode Islanders for a Fair Judiciary. The coalition also includes the National Council of Jewish Women, the Urban League of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the National Association of Social Workers-R.I., Rhode Island Parent Information Network, the Poverty Institute at Rhode Island College School of Social Work, Planned Parenthood Rhode Island, 2 to 1: The Coalition to Preserve Choice, Jobs with Justice and the United Service and Allied Workers-R.I.

Senators Jack Reed and Lincoln Chafee “know what they need to do,” state Rep. Joseph S. Almeida, D-Providence, said. “We’re going to put the pressure on.”

LOAD-DATE: July 7, 2005

Join RI Women in Action for a lobby day to win policy that will improve the lives of Rhode Island women & girls!

Tuesday, May 3rd, 3:00 pm, State House

Use the flyer below to spread the word!

The lobby day coincides with the Senate Judiciary hearing on the Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Homicide Prevention Act. We’ll stand in solidarity at the hearing (room 313 state house) from 3:00-4:00 pm and then hit the floor of the House and Senate to lobby on three critical pieces of legislation.

Details are below.

Marriage Equality Rhode Island announces that the House Judiciary
Committee has postponed the hearing on our bill for Equal Marriage.

We have been assured by Rep. Art Handy, our bill sponsor, that we will
indeed get a hearing on our bill, but scheduling issues forced the
postponement.

The Rally for Equal Marriage will go ahead as planned - so please come
to the State House tomorrow!!

The rally will begin at 5:00 pm (if you can be there from the beginning,
you might aim for 4:30, to get through security). We will continue
rallying for at least an hour, so join us later if you can do that!

There is a hearing on an issue key to the LGBT community, that will be
posted about separately.

COME RAISE YOUR VOICE AND RALLY FOR EQUAL MARRIAGE TOMORROW!

Just a quick reminder to supporters of civil marriage access for
same-sex couples that next Tuesday, April 12th is the rally and House
hearing. Don’t forget to work on your testimony this weekend - feel
free to email me if you have any questions or need some help getting
started, I’ll be working on mine as well.

One tip - we’re trying not to say “same-sex marriage” - it makes it
sound like we’re pushing for something different from “regular
marriage”. We’re looking for Equal Marriage for ALL Rhode Island
couples.

We’re trying to collect copies of written testimony, so please send a
copy to info@marriageequalityri.org.

And please give your legislators a call on Monday and ask them to come
to the rally on Tuesday - 5 pm at the State House rotunda. If you
don’t know how to reach your legislator, you can search online again;
the link is:

http://www.sec.state.ri.us/elections/findyourofficials/

We need your help getting the word out to the many people who aren’t
on this email list. Bring your friends, parents, children,
co-workers, and neighbors along!

And welcome to our many new members this week! If you need more
information about anything, drop me a line or visit our website at
www.MarriageEqualityRI.org.

Hearing on 24-Hour Waiting Period (H5144)
Tuesday, April 12, 2004 at 4:30pm in Room 35, House Judiciary
Information on H5144:

• This bill requires that doctors give their name over the phone to whoever makes an appointment. Seven doctors have already been killed. This will increase violence towards doctors in Rhode Island.
• This bill makes no provisions for victims of rape or incest.
• A state imposed waiting period would postpone procedures by weeks, causing more abortions to be performed later in pregnancy – at greater medical risk to the woman. According to the Journal of American Medical Association, August 27, 1997 - Mississippi Study: “As a result of the 24 hr. waiting period law, abortions performed after 12 weeks gestation increased by 39%.”
• This bill requires that women be given state-produced, illustrated pamphlets that are medically inaccurate, at a cost of almost $500,000 annually to the Rhode Island taxpayer.
• The medical community, including the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and the Rhode Island Medical Society is strongly opposed to procedure specific waiting periods.

There is already an informed consent law in Rhode Island for abortion, (23-4.7) which goes above and beyond the informed consent for any other procedure in the state.
What can you do to help ?
Call Speaker William Murphy at 222-2466 or 821-2413 and primary sponsor Rep. Corvese at 353-8695 and tell them that:

1. You oppose this attempt to restrict a woman’s access to safe, legal medical services, and
2. This legislation is dangerous to our state’s doctors and is not supported by the medical community, and
3. This is not the way you want your tax dollars used (2001 Rhode Island Department of Health fiscal note on this legislation set the cost at over $447,000).

Testify at the hearing Tuesday– please contact Anne at anneb@pprimail.org or at 421-7820 x3145.

Read the bill: go to www.state.ri.us, click ‘general assembly’, click ‘GA legislative info’, click ‘bill text’, click ‘search’, enter bill number 5144.

Call Anne at with any questions at 421-7820 x3145.

Please join us Tuesday, April 12th, as we take a stand against any attempt to undermine women’s access to constitutionally protected reproductive health care!