Feature Archives

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) recently expressed outrage at the Target Corporation for misrepresenting Planned Parenthood and attempting to cover up a misguided corporate policy that denies women access to contraception. PPFA has urged Target to implement a policy that respects the rights of its customers by ensuring that Target pharmacies fill prescriptions in-store, without discrimination or delay. However, Target has announced that it would continue to embrace a policy that denies women timely access to basic health care. In response to complaints from the public, Target has questioned the veracity of a well-documented pharmacist refusal incident in Missouri and mischaracterized PPFA's attempts to address the situation. Target Timeline Prior to this refusal incident, Target ignored three requests by Planned Parenthood to clarify its national policy on pharmacists who refuse to fill valid, legal prescriptions for birth control. Some pharmacists refuse to fill prescriptions for Emergency Contraception, claiming that their religious beliefs prevent them from doing so.

Karen Pearl, PPFA interim president, said, "When the drugs needed to fill women's prescriptions are sitting on a shelf behind the counter, women should not be turned away and sent to find them at another store. If Kmart, CVS, Costco and other chains can find a way to accommodate employees while still ensuring that patients receive timely, on-site access to their prescription medication, why can't Target?"

Pharmacist refusals can jeopardize woman's reproductive health. Denying women timely access to health care is an act of discrimination that could lead to an increased number of unintended pregnancies. PPFA has an online letter that can be sent to encourage Target to fill EC and birth control prescriptions.

The Truth About Target | Fill My Pills Now has survey results of the policies of top pharmacy chains about filling birth control prescriptions

The right wing remains on the offensive despite its loss in this fall's statewide election, and will be coming to San Francisco on January 21st, 2006, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, for the second annual “Walk for Life”. A coalition that says, "San Francisco is a reproductive rights town" will meet on Sunday, December 4th from 3:00-5:00pm in the Women’s Building in San Francisco (3543 18th Street between Valencia and Guerrero). The group plans to expand on the victory against Proposition 73 in November's election.

The goal of this meeting is to get input about ideas for the protest, and to put. plans in motion for a response to the “Walk for Life.” Organizers plan to bring more people out into the street to counter the Walk for Life West Coast than the 4-5,000 who participated in 2005. Read more

As the election day on November 8th approaches, the polls continue to show that Proposition 73, the anti-choice ballot initiative that threatens the health of teenage women, will be decided by a slim margin. The Bay Area Coalition for Our Reproductive Rights held a rally for reproductive rights on Saturday, November 5th in San Francisco's Dolores Park. The event featured speakers, entertainment, performances, information tables, and art. Photos: 1 | 2 | Audio | Video The rally was followed by a Take Back the Night March to commemorate the women who died from neglected childbirth, illegal abortions and/or domestic abuse. The ACLU invited volunteers to help with No on Prop 73 phonebanking before the protest. Phonebanking info and list of speakers These events were in part a way to raise awareness of plans to mobilize people to counter the “Walk for Life,” anti-choice fundamentalists who will be coming to San Francisco on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade on January 21st, 2006.

BACORR, one of the Bay Area’s oldest direct action reproductive rights groups, recently re-formed itself to mobilize resistance and raise awareness in response to the attacks on women’s reproductive rights and the surge in attacks on clinics in the Bay Area. BACORR’s demands include the voting down of Proposition 73. This Parental Notification Initiative will be on the ballot in California on November 8th. It targets young women’s fundamental right to abortion and will especially impact low-income women and women of color if it is passed. Additional demands include: Supreme Court justices and laws supporting a woman’s right to control her body, expansion of civil liberties for all; the repeal of the racist Hyde Amendment, which was passed in 1976 and bans funding for abortion for women in the military or on Medicaid; universal healthcare, safe birth control, pre-natal care, and affordable childcare; defense of clinics from right-wing terrorism; ending of forced sterilization abuse of women of color; and ending the war on women at home and abroad.

BACORR is organizing during a time in which a great deal of negative pressure is being put on women's health advocates. In January 2005, 5,000 members of the anti-choice community marched in San Francisco streets, aided by the San Francisco diocese and led by two local women. They were met by thousands of defenders of a woman's right to choose. In May, Operation Rescue harassed gynecologists at the Convention of the College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists at the Moscone center and harassed a gynecologist in her Oakland neighborhood. In July, “The Crusade for Life” targeted Planned Parenthood in California and harassed Planned Parenthood clinics in San Francisco for a week.

9/24 Interview with a BACORR member | BACORR website

California's scheduled November 8th "Special Election" included Proposition 73, an initiative that would have required parents of teens to be notified 48 hours before they can have an abortion. The safety and health of young women would have been put in danger. Parental notification laws force teenagers to choose between talking with parents or having illegal, unsafe abortions. A poll showed that 48% of likely voters oppose this measure, demonstrating how close an election it was.

The No on 73 Campaign for Teen Safety said, "The real answer to teen pregnancy is prevention and strong, caring families -- not new laws that endanger our daughters. The best way to protect our daughters is to begin talking about responsible, appropriate sexual behavior from the time they are young, fostering an atmosphere that assures them they can come to us." The campaign held phone banking events in cities all over the state, which appeared to have been successful. Read more

No on 73 website | NARAL's Prop 73 Fact Sheet | The text of Proposition 73

Non-profit public interest and women's legal groups, along with nationally respected private employee rights law firms, have filed a class action suit against Wal-Mart (including Sam's Clubs) charging that Wal-Mart discriminates against women. Women have complained about their treatment in over 20 California Wal-Mart stores. The next hearing in the case will be on August 8, 2005 at 1:30pm at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The hearing will take up the issue of Wal-Mart's appeal of the class certification order in the case.

Groups Plan to Protest New Walmart in Oakland | Building Bridges Radio Report About the Women's Suit | Wal-Mart Class Action Lawsuit | Another women's lawsuit website | The Wal-Mart Litigation Project | Alternet Article: The Women of Wal-Mart

A memorial for Joan Norman will be held on Sunday, July 31st, at 3:00 PM at Forks State Park, just a half mile south of Cave Junction on 199. Read more and watch a video about Joan

7/24/2005: Yesterday was moving day. Joan Norman was moving into an apartment that she had endured two years on a waiting list for, in Brookings. She was killed in a car accident and her nephew, who had been in the car with her, survived with minor injuries. Joan Norman was interviewed by a Portland Indymedia reporter during the women's actions in the Biscuit earlier this year. Ms. Norman had been arrested on March 8th, and one of her statements in the interview was, "There are only 5% of the old growth trees left in the United States." She was arrested twice during the Biscuit campaign. At 72 years of age, she spent several weeks in jail, as she had refused bail on the moral grounds that she was not the law breaker. She was arrested more than 100 times in her more than 30 years of activism.

Activists were attending a Sisters of the Siskiyou benefit in Ashland when this news was relayed to them last night. Joan Norman had been their "number one Sister of the Siskiyous, dear friend, mentor and leader." The group decided to do what would have please Joan-- Biscuiteers will take lawn chairs and sit down in front of the McGuire timber sale. The action will occur in a timeframe most respectful toward Joan's family. Details about Joan's memorial will be announced soon.

Read more on Indybay's Environment and Forest Defense News Page

The “Crusade for Life” has made plans to harass women at health clinics in the Bay Area from July 15th-27th. Radical Women and other local organizations are encouraging people to help to defend the clinics and to send the message that the Bay Area is pro-choice and stands up for reproductive rights. The Bay Area is being targeted precisely because of the long-standing tradition of honoring and protecting a woman's right to reproductive self determination.

Planned Clinic Defense Actions: July 22nd: About 15 people were stationed all morning at two clinics in Oakland. As of 11:30am, there was no anti-choice presence at the Women's Choice Clinic. July 23rd: A Press Conference and Rally to Fight the Anti-Choice Bigots was held at 9:00am at Eddy St. and Van Ness. Photos: 1 | 2 | Video | Audio: 1 | 2 The main messages of the press conference were: "NO to John Roberts! NO to PROP 73! And NO to the 'Crusade for Life'!" Anti-choice protesters were visible from the press conference. A protest was held at Planned Parenthood on Saturday, July 16th, and, as the organization has since expressed concerns about the "negative impact on our ability to provide services," no pro-choice protest was scheduled for that site for this weekend. Report from Pro-choice journalist: 7/17

Monday, July 25th: Clinic Defense and pro-choice presence at Women’s Choice Clinic in Oakland started at 8am. The anti-choice group also made plans to be in Berkeley on July 26th and in Richmond on July 27th. Read more ways to help defend clinics | Recommended Procedures for Clinic Defense & Patient/Escort Assistance