Pro-choice campaign to confront anti-abortion bigots
Week of action to be launched at International Women’s Day rally
The Pro-Choice Action Collective will launch a week of action at this Saturday’s International Women’s Day rally to be held at 10:30am in King George Square.
The week of action will be held in the lead up to the “Abortion is a woman’s right to choose” protest that will take place on March 13 – which is being held to coincide with a rally organised by a coalition of anti-abortion groups including the far-right National Civic Council.
According to Pro-Choice Action Collective activist, Kathy Newnam “we are calling on all supporters of women’s rights to take a stand against the bigotry of the anti-abortion movement. The aim of the anti-abortion movement is the complete banning of abortion. While they have the right to their quaint religious views about conception and life they have no right whatsoever to enforce their views on women.
“The fact is that abortion is not a social problem, it is a solution to the problem of unwanted pregnancies. It is a social necessity. That is why women always have and always will have abortion.
“Women have fought long and hard to win the access to abortion that exists today. We will not sit back quietly while these extremists try to take that away from us.
“We know only too well that we cannot take the access to abortion that does exist for granted – right now a woman in Cairns is facing the prospect of seven years prison on charges brought under Queensland’s anti-abortion laws. The Bligh government’s refusal to act in this case and ongoing refusal to repeal the anti-abortion laws puts them firmly in the camp of the anti-abortion bigots.
“The hypocrisy of the anti-abortion movement is sickening. They call themselves “pro-life” but they care nothing of the tens of thousands of women who are condemned to death every year because they are unable to access safe abortion.
“The anti-abortion movement is fighting hard to deny our rights. While they have the support of significant sections of the political establishment, we have the support of the vast majority - 80% of people in Australia support a women’s right to choose abortion.
“On March 8 we will launch a week of action which will see pro-choice supporters taking to the campuses, high schools and out on the streets campaigning to mobilise this support.
“On March 13 we will remember our sisters who have died because they could not access safe abortion. We will take a stand for the rights of all women to free, safe and accessible abortion on demand. We will not be silent in the face of anti-women bigotry”.
Pro-Choice Action Collective week of action launch: International Women’s Day rally – Saturday March 6, 10:30am, King George Square, city.
Abortion is a woman’s right to choose protest: Saturday March 13, 12 noon, outside Parliament House.
For more information or comments phone Kathy Newnam 0400 720 757