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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We continue to mourn the loss of our friend and colleague, Dr. George Tiller. Dr. Tiller was a dedicated physician who provided quality abortion care to women, at great personal sacrifice and risk. He is truly a hero to his fellow abortion providers and his patients. Dr. Tiller’s office is filled with letters from women, thanking him for the excellent, compassionate care he provided. Many of these women say Dr. Tiller saved their lives.
Since his tragic death, we have received messages from some of his patients and from people around the world who are saddened and outraged. We feel it is important to share these words and tributes to our beloved colleague and friend. For the first time, we will enable comments on our blog so that all of you can share your condolences or offer memories of Dr. Tiller. We invite you to join us in honoring a true American hero, Dr. George Tiller.
Post your comments, condolences, and personal memories of Dr. Tiller
Celebrating 35 Years of Safe, Legal Abortion Care
Today marks the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion care in the United States. On this historic anniversary, it is important that we celebrate what we have achieved under the legacy of Roe while also assessing the challenges that lie ahead. Roe has undoubtedly saved the lives and protected the health of countless women. As we mark this milestone of 35 years of safe, legal abortion care, we must remain vigilant in preserving this freedom so that we never have to return to the days of back-alley abortions when women had to sacrifice their lives and health to end an unwanted pregnancy. In the 35 years since Roe, many new reproductive health care options have become available to women. These include a variety of safe and effective contraceptive methods, emergency contraception, early medical abortion using mifepristone (RU-486), and safe surgical abortion. Despite these advances in reproductive health care, a woman's fundamental right to make her own reproductive health care decisions continues to be eroded by politicians and the courts. Women deserve to have access to safe abortion care, free from the interference of politicians. Legislative attacks on Roe and a woman's right to choose are all too common in state legislatures. In 2007 alone, more than 450 anti-choice bills were filed in states across the country. Although the vast majority of these bills were not enacted, several states passed extreme legislation that would ban all safe abortion procedures at all stages of pregnancy if Roe were overturned. It is critical to the lives and health of millions of women that the protections of Roe not be further weakened. NAF will continue to work to ensure that abortion remains safe, legal, and accessible to promote health and justice for women. Labels: abortion bans, access, anti-choice, medical abortion, Roe v. Wade, state legislation
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National Abortion Federation Calls on Members of Congress to Sponsor and Support the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)
 Here is the press release we issued today:Washington, DC - Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, released the following statement today urging members of Congress to sponsor and support the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA): The United States Supreme Court ruling upholding the federal abortion ban was a major setback for women’s health. This ruling effectively undermines a core protection for women’s health established in Roe v. Wade. It underscores the urgent need for Congress to take action to protect women’s health and a woman’s right to make her own reproductive health care decisions.
FOCA would restore the rights guaranteed to American women by the Roe decision, and ensure that women’s health would be protected.
 Women’s lives and health must remain paramount. We urge members of Congress to sponsor and support this important legislation and safeguard women's health and reproductive freedom. We stand with and thank Senator Boxer and Representative Nadler for their leadership and determination to ensure that women continue to have access to safe and legal reproductive health care.
Labels: abortion bans, access, Federal Abortion Ban, Roe v. Wade
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NAF condemned a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding a federal law banning certain abortions. The Bush Court clearly put politics ahead of protecting women's health. "This decision is a major setback for women's health," said Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of NAF. "It undermines the health protections afforded by Roe v. Wade and opens the door for politicians to pass additional laws that could further jeopardize women's safety." The federal abortion ban interferes with the doctor-patient relationship and the ability of doctors to make appropriate medical decisions. We will be working with our member physicians to ensure that women continue to have access to safe, quality abortion care. NAF has been on the forefront of challenging this dangerous ban and we need your support to continue our efforts to protect women's health. > Donate nowLabels: abortion bans, access, Federal Abortion Ban, Roe v. Wade
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ACLU and National Abortion Federation Criticize Decision by U.S. Supreme Court Upholding Federal Abortion Ban
Here is the press release we issued today:WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Abortion Federation (NAF) today sharply criticized a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding a federal law banning certain abortions. It is the first abortion decision from the Supreme Court since Justice Sandra Day O’Connor retired. Both organizations said that the Court’s decision will endanger women’s health.
“Today’s decision has placed politics above protecting women’s health,” said Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of NAF. “This ruling is a set back for all Americans who believe politicians should not legislate medical decision-making. The decision disregards the opinion of leading doctors and medical organizations that oppose the ban because it is harmful to women’s health.”
The Court ruled today on two challenges to the federal abortion ban, called by its sponsors the “Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act.” The two cases are Gonzales v. Carhart, brought by the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of Dr. LeRoy Carhart and three other physicians, and Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, brought by Planned Parenthood Federation of America on behalf of its affiliates throughout the country.
A third challenge to the ban, National Abortion Federation v. Gonzales, was brought by NAF and seven individual physicians, represented by the ACLU, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, the ACLU of Illinois, and the New York Civil Liberties Union. In 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit put that case on hold until the Supreme Court issued a decision in the other two cases. Today’s Supreme Court decision requires that the ban be upheld in this case as well.
“Today’s decision undermines a core principle of Roe v. Wade that women’s health must remain paramount,” said Louise Melling, Director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. “The decision invites politicians to meddle even further into the doctor-patient relationship by passing additional restrictions on abortion.”
Leading doctors and medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which represents 90 percent of OB-GYNs in this country, opposed the federal ban.
Congress passed the federal abortion ban and President Bush signed it into law in 2003, despite numerous court decisions striking down similar state bans, including the decision in 2000 by the Supreme Court in Stenberg v. Carhart.
As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said in her dissent to today’s opinion: “Though today’s opinion does not go so far as to discard Roe or Casey, the Court, differently composed than it was when we last considered a restrictive abortion regulation, is hardly faithful to our earlier invocations of ‘the rule of law’ and the ‘principles of stare decisis.’”
Today’s cases are Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, No. 05-1382 and Gonzales v. Carhart, No. 05-380.Labels: abortion bans, Federal Abortion Ban, Roe v. Wade
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Here is the press release we issued Friday:Washington, DC—Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, released the following statement today condemning Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour’s decision to sign an abortion ban into law. The bill would ban almost all abortions in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.
This law is a near-total ban on abortion. It would deny Mississippi women necessary reproductive health care. Under this law doctors would also face imprisonment for providing women with safe abortion care. Politicians should not endanger the lives and health of women to advance their own political agendas.
For more than 30 years, Roe v. Wade has protected the lives and health of American women. Citizens in Mississippi will not tolerate a return to the days of back-alley abortions when women had to sacrifice their lives and health to end an unwanted pregnancy.
Labels: abortion bans, Roe v. Wade
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States Continue to Attack Abortion Access
State lawmakers across the country continue their attempts to restrict abortion access.
Yesterday lawmakers in South Dakota introduced a bill banning abortion with limited exceptions. In November, voters in the state rejected an abortion ban by a wide margin. This year’s ban has stricter penalties; doctors who provide abortions could be charged with a Class-4 felony and face up to 10 years in prison.
A Utah House of Representatives panel Tuesday approved an unconstitutional abortion ban that challenges Roe v. Wade. Initially Rep. Paul Ray was expected to introduce a “trigger” bill, but at the last minute pushed for an abortion ban with limited exceptions. This is not the first time Utah legislators have tried to outlaw abortion. In the early 1990s Utah passed an abortion ban and spent more than $1 million taxpayer dollars to defend the law all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court where it was struck down as unconstitutional.
Friday, the North Dakota House of Representatives passed a “trigger” bill, which would go into effect if Roe v. Wade were overturned. This measure would ban all safe abortion procedures at all stages of pregnancy with no meaningful exceptions.Labels: abortion bans, access, Roe v. Wade, South Dakota, state legislation
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Celebrating Reproductive Freedom: Commemorating Roe v. Wade in the Nation’s Capital – Update 2
 I wanted to share with you insights from one of our staff members handling violence and security issues:
Anti-abortion protesters from around the country came to Washington, DC to participate in Monday’s “March for Life” as well as numerous other activities that took place over the weekend. The march itself began with a rally on the national mall near the White House where the crowd was addressed by anti-choice legislators. President Bush also addressed the protestors via telephone.
On Saturday, a group of anti-abortion teens and college students protested at abortion clinics in Washington, DC. They held signs, prayed, sang, and attempted to approach patients and staff entering the clinics. Escorts from the Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force were on hand to assist women safely into the clinics. On behalf of our members, I went to the clinic protests and the march to monitor the protesters; ensure that no laws were broken; and offer support and assistance. One difference this year at the clinic protests was the noted absence of the older adult male leaders such as Frank Pavone, Pat Mahoney, and Jeff White.
In such an important week for reproductive freedom, another anti-abortion extremist is in federal court. Today the jury found convicted murderer James Kopp guilty of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and using a firearm to commit a violent act. He was previously convicted on state murder charges for the 1998 shooting death of abortion provider Dr. Barnett Slepian, and is serving a 25-year-to-life state sentence. This federal conviction could ensure that he would not be eligible for parole. Such prosecutions and convictions have led to the decline in major acts of violence against abortion providers in recent years.
>Learn more about clinic violence.Labels: access, anti-choice, FACE act, Roe v. Wade, violence
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Celebrating Reproductive Freedom: Commemorating Roe v. Wade in the Nation’s Capital - Update 1
 The Supreme Court steps seemed a fitting place to commemorate the 34th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Braving the cold and leftover snow, we joined other activists to celebrate the landmark decision that legalized abortion. As you might expect our celebration was met by anti-choice protestors, but neither their signs nor the weather could dampen our spirits. Roe day is a day for us to celebrate our freedom – and as we stood between the nation’s highest court and the Capitol, we were reminded that we must continue to stand up for our reproductive rights. After the rally at the Supreme Court, we headed over to an event sponsored by one of our members, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington (PPMW). In addition to meeting other activists and members of the pro-choice community, we also got the chance to meet actress Kathleen Turner. Ms. Turner is an advocate for reproductive freedom and spoke about the need for young women to get involved in protecting a woman’s right to choose abortion. She also talked about the obstacles low-income women face in obtaining abortion care. This event raised money for PPMW’s Justice Fund which offers financial assistance to women seeking abortions. Everyday the NAF Hotline helps low-income women struggling to find a way to pay for their abortions.
Labels: anti-choice, Roe v. Wade
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Celebrating Reproductive Freedom: Commemorating Roe v. Wade in the Nation’s Capital
 One of the things I value most about our staff is their passion and commitment to women’s reproductive freedom. Working at NAF is more than just a job; our staff members are active in the pro-choice movement even after they leave the office. This week, NAF staff members will be participating in events to celebrate Roe v. Wade and their reports will be featured on our blog.
Labels: Roe v. Wade
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On the 34th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the National Abortion Federation Releases its 2006 Legislative Report
As our nation today commemorates the 34th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the National Abortion Federation (NAF) released its 2006 Legislative Report. While abortion rights remained under attack in 2006, there were several notable victories at the federal and state levels that could lay the groundwork for future pro-choice legislative victories.
"Legislative attacks on women's reproductive freedom are all too common," said Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of NAF. "Women deserve to have access to safe, legal, and accessible abortion care. At the same time that we celebrate what Roe v. Wade has done to improve the lives and health of American women, we must remain vigilant in opposing attempts to further restrict abortion access."
The report examines key events in 2006, including the confirmation of Samuel Alito, the introduction of sweeping abortion bans in several states, successful campaigns against restrictive state ballot initiatives, the enactment of protective measures for abortion providers, the defeat of anti-abortion legislation on Capitol Hill, and the 2006 elections.
"NAF will continue to work on the state and federal levels to ensure that abortion is safe, legal, and accessible to promote health and justice for women," said Saporta.
NAF’s 2006 Legislative Report is available at www.prochoice.org.Labels: abortion bans, access, anti-choice, ballot initiatives, Roe v. Wade
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Roe Anniversary News Clips
Monday marks the 34th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. As press coverage of the anniversary begins, here are two articles to read over the weekend:
>Slate magazine features a story that discusses another significant abortion case: Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey and its impact on Roe.
>An article in The Tampa Tribune profiles Sarah Weddington, the lawyer who successfully argued Roe before the Supreme Court.Labels: Roe v. Wade
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Threats to Abortion Access in the States
Attacks on abortion rights continue at the state level. Following are two recent examples: Ohio: In one of his last acts in office, Governor Bob Taft signed a bill prohibiting public funding of abortions except in instances of rape, incest, or life endangerment. The bill officially states that childbirth is preferred over abortion as the public policy of the state, and also banned the use of public money, including Medicaid, for abortion counseling and referrals. Oklahoma: State Representative Mike Reynolds recently filed a “trigger” bill, which would automatically go into effect if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and re-establish the state’s anti-abortion laws. >Learn more about state level threats to abortion accessLabels: abortion bans, access, Medicaid, Roe v. Wade
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Women Have Suffered Thirty Years Of Injustice As A Result Of Restrictive Government Funding.
Your Thirty Dollars Will Make A Difference In Their Lives. For 30 years, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited the federal government from funding basic reproductive health care services for low-income women. As a result, for many women with limited resources abortion may not be a viable option, even though Roe v. Wade guarantees a woman’s right to make her own personal health care decisions. At the National Abortion Federation (NAF), our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care to promote health and justice for women. One of the ways that NAF works to achieve our mission is by providing unbiased, factual information about abortion and pregnancy through our national, toll-free Hotline. The NAF Hotline operates six days-a-week; provides non-judgmental, confidential information; and helps to raise money for women who cannot afford the abortion care they need. Following is an example of one woman we were recently able to assist: Early in “Aimee’s” pregnancy, she and her husband were in a terrible car crash. He was killed, and the medications she took during her recovery caused abnormalities in the development of her fetus. Aimee was grieving for her husband, caring for her 4-year old son, and facing multiple surgeries to heal her injuries. She knew she needed to have an abortion. When she went to a hospital near her home, they refused to help, turning her away because her life was not in danger. In less than 24 hours, NAF Hotline staff raised the initial funds necessary for a NAF member clinic to provide the abortion care Aimee needed. The clinic arranged for her to make the remaining payments over time. Aimee’s procedure was completed the following day, allowing her to return to the difficult task of rebuilding her life. Today, we are asking for your help. Thirty years of denying low-income women access to reproductive health care services is 30 years too long. > ACT NOW by making a donation of $30 to NAF’s Hotline. All gifts to NAF in the U.S. are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.Labels: access, Roe v. Wade
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Challenges to Roe
Challenges to RoeIn the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Drs. Alexi Wright and Ingrid Katz report on the lack of abortion access and the Federal Abortion Ban in the U.S. The article notes:
As new legislation is passed, the courts will hear more cases that challenge Roe, and physicians may increasingly risk their careers and their lives if they choose to provide abortions. With each new decision to limit abortion, more American women lose their access. Whether the Supreme Court ultimately upholds or overturns the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, one thing is certain: poor women in rural America are bearing the brunt of these decisions, and some may pay with their lives.
Labels: abortion bans, access, Federal Abortion Ban, Roe v. Wade
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NAF Releases Report on Crisis Pregnancy Centers
NAF released a comprehensive report today detailing the many ways Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) have deceived and intimidated women. The report, entitled Crisis Pregnancy Centers: An Affront to Choice, highlights numerous instances where CPCs have harassed and given false information to women who have come through their doors, leaving them feeling betrayed and misled. The report also discusses legal action taken against CPCs, their current sources of funding, and what concerned citizens can do to combat their harmful tactics. You can read the full report here. On Tuesday, an Ohio State House committee heard testimony on a bill that would ban abortion in all circumstances, including when a woman’s life is threatened. At a rally protesting the bill, a woman told her story of having an unsafe, illegal abortion in the days before Roe v. Wade. The Kansas City Star reports on a trend in state legislatures to consider “trigger laws,” which would ban abortion in their states if Roe v. Wade were overturned. Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire is challenging a rule that would allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense prescriptions on religious grounds, including emergency contraception and birth control. Labels: abortion bans, Contraception, crisis pregnancy center (CPC), Kansas, Roe v. Wade
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A Visit to New Brunswick
Last week I visited New Brunswick and called on the health minister to ensure that women in the province had adequate access to abortion care. On Friday authorities apprehended an anti-abortion extremist who was planning to bomb an abortion clinic in Greenbelt, Maryland. The suspect appeared in court wearing an anti-abortion t-shirt. Kathryn Harris reviews a new book examining the history of women forced to give up their children for adoption after they faced an unplanned pregnancy before abortion was legalized. The book, by Ann Fessler, is titled The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade. Labels: access, Canada, Roe v. Wade, violence
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Life before Roe
In the West Virginia Charleston Gazette, a minister recalls life before Roe v. Wade. Labels: illegal, Roe v. Wade
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William Saletan has a column in Sunday’s Washington Post that discusses the future of the pro-choice movement and Roe v. Wade.Labels: Roe v. Wade
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South Dakota and Roe
South Dakota lawmakers will soon vote on a bill that could outlaw almost all abortions in the state. The bill contains an extremely narrow exception for the life of the woman, but women who were impregnated through rape or incest would be forced to carry their pregnancies to term. If the bill passes, South Dakota would hold the impressive honor of having the strictest abortion law in the country. The ban also seeks to challenge Roe v. Wade directly. If it passes, it will likely be challenged in court, as it disregards precedents set in Roe. Today’s New York Times examines how the bill seeks to eventually overturn Roe and send control over abortion laws back to the states. Labels: abortion bans, Roe v. Wade, South Dakota, state legislation
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