Mississippi Invaded by Anti-Choice Fundamentalists

From Jackson National Organization For Women: We have scheduled two clinic support trainings for July 8 and July 11, 2006.  This is the week before operation oppress america arrives.  Please let me know what day will be best for you.  If you are unable to make either of these sessions, please let me know and we will coordinate somthing around your availablity.

  • Saturday, July 8, 2006
    10:00 a.m.    Clinic Support Training, UU Church
  • Tuesday, July 11, 2006
    5:30 p.m.    Clinic Support Training, UU Church

Threats to reproductive freedom and justice have never been so systematic and coordinated, and the lives and health of Mississippi women never faced such peril.  The Jackson Area National Organization for Women (NOW), along with the Mississippi ACLU and the MS Reproductive Freedom Coalition are organizing an action around the upcoming hostile visit by Operation Oppress America (this is what they actually do), during the week of July 15-22, 2006.

Year after year anti-choice bullies travel across the country terrorizing clinics, their staff and patients and each time, the pro-choice community continues to show support for women, feminist issues and safe legal access to reproductive health care, free of government and religious intrusion.  As an organization with a strong pro-choice foundation, NOW stands firm on reproductive freedom.  We are committed to preserving a woman’s right to choose.

July 15-22, 2006, Jackson, MS will be invaded by several right-winged Christian fundamentalists, who use a nationwide network of churches to organize a series of actions against abortion providers and harass women visiting the clinics.  They have chosen the Jackson’s Women Health Clinic-the only provider in Mississippi.

The battle for reproductive freedom is a human rights struggle that includes all matters of equality and social justice. Reproductive justice connects the similarities amid sexism, poverty, racism, xenophobia and homophobia in achieving undivided human rights.  Pro-choice activists throughout the state have been organizing to combat this action.  We have organized Reproductive Freedom Summer 2006: Providing a Peaceful Presence, a week long of scheduled pro-choice events to show support to the clinic, its staff and most importantly, the courageous patients.

As an activist, I respectfully ask for your support during this challenging time. We need:

  • Activists to come to Jackson and aid in this fight
  • Volunteers
  • Financial contributions
  • Items for silent auction
  • Spread the word of our cause

I thank those who have made donations to our effort already.  The books, tapes, homemade items and money will be put to great use.

Please take the time to circulate this request to others who may be of assistance to our cause.  Jackson Area NOW is dedicated to upholding a woman’s fundamental right to choose whether or not to become a parent with reproductive
health options that are safe, affordable and accessible.  I hope you will join us this July in making history by participating in the largest pro-choice demonstration in Jackson, MS.  I appreciate your time and look forward to standing side-by-side with you while we show the nation that the last clinic in Mississippi will not fall.

Respectfully Yours,
Michelle Colon
President
Jackson Area NOW Chapter
P O Box 3833
Jackson, MS 39207
jxnms_now@yahoo.com