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National Abortion Federation Blog: Saporta Reporter

News about reproductive choice from the President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, Vicki Saporta.

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Monday, August 04, 2008

Lawsuit Demands Removal of Misleading Information from California Voter Guide

Friday, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and other groups filed a lawsuit to remove misleading language about a parental notification ballot initiative from material submitted for the official voter guide. The language in question includes a story used by supporters of the initiative to justify the legislation, although Planned Parenthood argues that parental notification would not have applied in the case.

The initiative would prohibit minors from obtaining abortion care until 48 hours after a physician has notified the minor’s parents or legal guardian. The measure is supported by the same group that has supported similar initiatives, which were rejected by voters in 2005 and 2006.

>Learn more about how parental involvement laws affect women.

Labels: California, parental involvement

Monday, July 28, 2008

Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation Protecting Providers and Patients from Violence

This past Friday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 1770 to extend the state’s Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act by five years. Originally passed in 2006, the Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act requires the state to collect and analyze information on anti-reproductive rights crimes.

There have been several cited cases of violence against clinicians and patients in California, including this year’s attempted arson of an abortion clinic in Northern California. SB 1770 provides law enforcement with essential tools in the fight to keep California providers and patients safe from anti-abortion violence and harassment.

Learn more about state clinic protection bills.

Labels: ballot initiatives, California, safety, state legislation

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Anti-Abortion Protester Charged with Violating Oakland Bubble Zone Ordinance

Anti-abortion protester Walter Hoye was due in court today on four misdemeanor charges of violating an Oakland bubble zone ordinance.

The bubble zone ordinance protects patients, doctors, nurses, and other employees of reproductive health care facilities as well as volunteer escorts who assist people entering and exiting the facilities. The ordinance prohibits several different behaviors at reproductive health care clinics, including approaching closer than 8 feet for the "purposes of counseling, harassing, or interfering" with someone without the person's consent.

In February, the Oakland City Council unanimously passed the bubble zone ordinance. Hoye has been involved in legal challenges to the bubble zone, and last month became the first person cited for violating the ordinance.

>Learn more about state Clinic Protection Bills.

Labels: access, buffer zone laws, California

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

California Man Charged with Attempted Murder of Abortion Provider

A California man is facing an attempted murder charge for plotting to shoot the doctor at a clinic where his girlfriend had obtained abortion care. Joel Robison allegedly drove to the clinic with a firearm February 17, but decided not to enter after seeing a clinic security guard. A week later Robison checked himself into a hospital for severe depression and admitted his murder plot to his doctor, who then informed the police. Even though he didn’t follow through with his plan, Robison’s actions still constitute attempted murder according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. If convicted, Robison could be sentenced to a maximum of 17 years to life in prison.

While major incidents of violence against abortion providers have decreased in recent years, there are still many anti-abortion extremists who believe that it is justifiable to murder doctors because they provide women with safe and legal abortion care.

>Learn more about clinic violence.

Labels: California

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Voters Reject Abortion Restrictions

Voters in California, Oregon and South Dakota rejected anti-choice ballot initiatives on Election Day.

> Read NAF's press release about the vote on the South Dakota abortion ban

> Read NAF's press release about the vote on Oregon's parental notification ballot initiative

> Read NAF's press release about the vote on California's parental notification initiative

Labels: abortion bans, anti-choice, ballot initiatives, California, Oregon, parental involvement, South Dakota

Thursday, September 28, 2006

California: Vote No on Proposition 85!

Last November, California voters rejected a parental notification ballot initiative by a margin of 52.6% to 47.4%. Unfortunately, proponents of the initiative managed to place it on the ballot with similar wording again this November. If the proposition passes, the health and safety of California teens may be placed in danger. While parents rightly want to be involved in the decisions of their teenage daughters, good family communication cannot be imposed by the government. Rather than tell their parents, some young women may resort to self-induced or back-alley abortions, risking serious injury and even death.

>Learn more about the dangers of mandating parental involvement and visit the website of the No on Proposition 85 Campaign to learn more about this initiative.

Labels: ballot initiatives, California, parental involvement

Friday, June 30, 2006

Dangerous Parental Involvement Proposition in California

Last year, California voters considered Proposition 73, which proposed to amend the California constitution to require minors to notify a parent or legal guardian at least 48 hours before an abortion. Californians rejected Proposition 73 recognizing that these measures can endanger teens.

Abortion opponents have collected enough signatures for a ballot initiative that will place a dangerous measure similar to Proposition 73 on the ballot this November.

>View the California Healthline article on the 2006 ballot initiative

For more information on this measure and Proposition 73, visit the Campaign for Teen Safety.

Labels: ballot initiatives, California, parental involvement, state legislation