Caravan for Choice kicks off a two-week California journey in Sacramento

Caravan for Choice begins multi-city tour with Capitol Steps event

What: Caravan for Choice kicks off a two-week California journey

Who: Dorothy Fadiman, Emmy award-winning filmmaker, and representatives from the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom

When: 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 8

Where: State Capitol (North Steps - L Street), Sacramento

Background: Emmy award-winning filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman will kick off her statewide and national Caravan for Choice on June 8 at the California State Capitol in concert with the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom (CCRF) Lobby Day.

Fadiman organized the California Caravan for Choice, an 11-city tour, as part of her nationwide Power of Choice Road Trip, which is designed to raise awareness about ongoing attempts by local and federal lawmakers to take away a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices. More California events are planned in July.

At each caravan stop, Fadiman will screen her newest documentary “Motherhood by Choice, Not Chance,” a compilation of the most engaging moments from her Corporation for Public Broadcasting Gold Medal trilogy “From the Back Alleys to the Supreme Court and Beyond.” (Reporters can view a three-minute trailer of “Motherhood by Choice, Not Chance” on Fadiman’s Web site at http://www.thepowerofchoice.net.)

The trilogy documents the physical, emotional and legal consequences of a time when abortion was a criminal act. Personal stories take the viewer from the history of illegal abortion through the current struggles to protect the right to choose. Women speak frankly about their own experiences, some for the first time. Doctors and health care workers describe the challenges they faced trying to save women suffering from botched abortions. Fadiman also takes us through the courageous fight to change the laws to provide safe and legal abortions and looks at the threats to choice today.

In addition to an Oscar nomination for “When Abortion was Illegal” and an Emmy award for “From Danger to Dignity,” Fadiman’s work has won more than 30 major awards.

The documentary began as a personal mission for Fadiman.

“When I became unintentionally pregnant in 1961, I had no safe choices,” Fadiman said. “Contraception was not an option for unmarried women, and safe legal abortions were not available. As a result of conditions at that time, I almost died from an unanesthetized, blindfolded back-alley abortion. Doctors at my university hospital saved my life.”

The California Caravan for Choice will make stops throughout California including house parties, theaters, clinics and college campuses. Fadiman will introduce the new documentary before each screening. The film will be followed by an open discussion to educate and inspire people who want to learn more while motivating and activating pro-choice supporters. The Caravan will be reported via a daily blog on Fadiman’s Web site http://www.thepowerofchoice.net.

Groups working together on the Caravan for Choice include Planned Parenthood, the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the League of Women Voters, NOW, NARAL and the Reproductive Rights Coalitions at many of the locations.

The California Caravan for Choice will be stopping at the following cities.
June 8 and 9 - Sacramento
June 10 - Stockton
June 11 - Modesto
June 12 - Merced
June 13 - Fresno
June 14 - Bakersfield
June 15 - TBA
June 16 - Los Angeles/Orange County
June 17 - Santa Barbara
June 18 - Monterey/Scotts Valley
June 19 - Santa Cruz/San Jose

###

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the state public policy office representing California’s nine separately incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates. Through advocacy and electoral action, PPAC promotes sound public policy in areas of reproductive health care, family planning and comprehensive sex education.