Anti-abortion folks never cease to amaze in the tactics they use to prevent access to this entirely lawful procedure. From protesters harassing women and workers at abortion clinics, to state-sponsored fake medical centers that attempt to trick and shame women out of abortions, our access is also obstructed by laws leading to too few abortion clinics in our state – resulting in women traveling long distances and taking off multiple days of work – and abortions themselves costing hundreds of dollars. To make access to abortion a reality for all women, we need free abortion on demand. To make that a reality, women must fight back.
This Saturday, National Women’s Liberation, (NWL) will celebrate the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized a woman’s right to an abortion, as well as the organizing that led to that decision and all the organizing efforts since then to protect it.
Gainesville is the birthplace of second-wave feminism organizing in the south, and here, feminist organizers have been fighting for decades. Most recently, on Jan. 9 a local abortion provider won against the state in Gainesville Woman Care, LLC v. State of Florida, when a Florida court struck down a 24-hour waiting period for abortions. This recent win was legally possible because Florida Constitution grants a right to privacy that is similar to the federal level protection, but stronger. This right to privacy is the primary reason Floridians aren’t subjected to even more extreme regulations other states face, such as 72-hour waiting periods in North Carolina, verbal counseling that life begins at conception in Indiana, or informational pamphlets in Texas which tell lies about abortions causing breast cancer.
Our Florida constitutional right to privacy gives a woman’s right to an abortion more protection, but that protection is still under attack. This year, the Constitutional Revision Commission is meeting and is considering changes to Florida’s right to privacy that would weaken our right to abortion. Its proposed changes will be placed on the November 2018 election ballot. The CRC only meets once every 20 years, and its public hearings are held during the work day. NWL organizers will go to the CRC hearing in Jacksonville on Feb. 20 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., to put on record our support for a strong right to privacy provision and protection for our right to abortion. If you want to join us, email us at nwl@womensliberation.org.
In the meantime, celebrate feminists organizing wins for reproductive rights. Saturday Jan. 20 at 7 p.m., join NWL at The Wooly, 20 N. Main St., for the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Enjoy amazing feminist bands, meet tireless social justice groups from around Gainesville, see our guerilla theater and raise money for NWL to continue our organizing. The show event is open to all ages. More information is available at www.womensliberation.org.
The only way to protect and expand our reproductive rights is to fight for them and support movement groups. NWL hopes you’ll join us – or another social justice group – and find your own place in the movement.
Jennifer C. Boylan is a UF postdoctoral scholar and a Steering Committee Member of National Women’s Liberation (NWL).
