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Indybay Feature

West Coast Rally for Reproductive Justice

by Mei Bo Chan
Today is the 39th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision, extending a woman's right to privacy to include the right to have an abortion. On January 20th pro-choice activists rallied to say: it's a woman's right to choose whether to proceed with a pregnancy.
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Yesterday's pro-choice rally in Justin Herman Plaza was a positive, family-friendly event for people to celebrate the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Pro-choice advocates said women have the inherent right to make our own medical decisions.

Speakers in photos here are Senator Mark Leno and Dr. Sophia Yen of Trust Women. The Raging Grannies and Ziva Hadar performed on stage.

Representatives from CA NOW, Radical Women, World Can't Wait and Bacorr (Bay Area Coalition for our Reproductive Rights) were present to greet the crowd and help celebrate, but at the same time give warning that right wing bigots would continue to try to push their religious beliefs on others and infringe on civil liberties.

A group called "Against Cuts" consisting of activists working for a fair budget came to table and support the pro-choicers.

Speakers said that all women deserve access to safe, legal abortions on demand. Dr. Sophia Yen of "Trust Women" and the Silver Ribbon Campaign emphasized that Plan B is a right, not a privilege. Supervisor David Chiu said we must say no to so-called "crisis pregnancy centers". He said he is proud of a measure he and his fellow supervisors approved last fall that moves the city toward a law banning the centers. It is well known that such centers mislead women into believing they offer abortion services when they actually coerce and intimidate women with anti-abortion propaganda.

Participants celebrated women's rights, as the Walk for Life, largely religious in nature, gathered in Civic Center.
§Family-friendly
by Mei Bo Chan
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§Atheists Support Freedom FROM Religion
by Mei Bo Chan
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It is our right to not be oppressed by religious beliefs of others.
§The crowd in Justin Herman Plaza
by Mei Bo Chan
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Raging Granny interview aired on CBS affiliate on that evening's news
§TV cameras gave great coverage to pro-choice side
by Mei Bo Chan
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Reviewing the news coverage on NBC, CBS and ABC SF Bay Area affiliates, the pro-choice rally was given good coverage. The TV newscasters gave their "oh, here they come again, yawn" coverage of the gathering in Civic Center and by now ho-hum march of thousands of dazed looking outsiders. So-called "pro-lifers" (who don't care if women die or become destitute) probably didn't see it though, as they were headed back to wherever they came from.
§Silver Ribbon Crew
by Mei Bo Chan
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Also called: Trust Women
§Dr. supports choice
by Mei Bo Chan
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§Stephanie Tang of World Can't Wait
by Mei Bo Chan
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§At 1:00 a countermarch
by Mei Bo Chan
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The sign says it all
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blackeye1776
Sun, Jan 22, 2012 4:58PM
Jacob
Sun, Jan 22, 2012 2:12PM
blackeye1776
Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:27AM
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