Speech by Karen Fiore at the Chicago World Can’t Wait Rally. Karen
is a pro-choice activist and Board member of Chicago NOW*– (*for
identification only, Karen was speaking for herself and not
representing any organization).
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I would like to thank World Can’t Wait for this opportunity. This is an opportunity for those who
know that the Bush regime does not represent us, as citizens of
America, to gather together and take the first step in proclaiming that
we refuse to be ruled this way.
Our government is moving to deny women here, and all over the world, the right to birth control and abortion.
Abortion was finally made legal throughout the United States in 1973 by
a Supreme Court decision known as Roe v Wade. This decision is based on
a woman’s right to privacy regarding medical matters including family
planning. This decision was fought for by men and women demanding the
right to a safe, legal abortion. Currently, the Supreme Court allows
some restrictions on the practice of abortion, and these restrictions
vary from state to state.
Being pro-choice is complex. It is not singularly about abortion. It is about all reproductive
choices. It is about access to information that we need, information
that we can gather and understand. It is about reaching our own
decisions on reproduction without interference. It is also about who
makes the final decision, not a judge or the government, but the woman.
It is about having options and celebrating freedom. (FWHC)
However, Across the US since Bush’s election, individual states have introduced waves of harsh
restrictions on women’s legal rights to access abortion and many abortion clinics have closed down.
One of Bush’s first moves as President was to re-introduce the ‘Global Gag’ rule. This rule
withholds US funding for health centers that provide abortion services,
or even information. This rule is driving reproductive rights back
decades in over 60 countries. Around the world, up to 80,000 women die
every year from unsafe abortions.
Now, even women’s fundamental right to choose, established with the
groundbreaking Roe v. Wade decision, is in jeopardy. No one should
underestimate the potential of the Supreme Court vacancy to push back
women’s rights. Bush can now transform social rights in the US for
decades by replacing Justice O’Connor with an anti-choice judge.
If Roe v. Wade were overturned, many states would quickly ban abortion
altogether, with devastating consequences for tens of millions of women
across the US. The shock waves would be felt throughout the world.
The choice of abortion is a personal one. However, we cannot
underestimate the power of this choice. We cannot underestimate the
power of this choice being withheld. I urge you to keep your eyes and
ears open on this crucial topic of abortion. Refuse to be ruled by the
rightwing religious theocracy that Bush is creating. Women and men
fought for the freedom that came of Roe v. Wade and we must fight again
to keep abortion available. Women’s lives are at stake. We have worked
consistently and tirelessly to defend women’s rights and these rights
cannot be taken away from us. We must act now. Join us in the
fight. The world cannot wait.
Thank you.