BruceChris
10-06-2008, 05:23 PM
South Dakota Abortion Ban Weekend
On the afternoon of October 5 a group of volunteers boarded a bus for Sioux Falls South Dakota. We were going there to work against Ballot Measure 11, a law that would ban all abortions except for narrow exemptions in the case of rape or incest. Two years earlier, the same law had been proposed without the exceptions as Ballot Measure 6, and defeated. I had volunteered for that effort, too.
Note: Measure 11, in addition to being very restrictive, is also punitive and in places, downright bizarre. Punishments of up to 10 years in prison are called for for anyone involved. The measure also required that after an abortion, every possible measure be taken to maintain the life of the aborted fetus! Details:
http://www.readthefineprint.org/readthefineprint/
The people who were working with us against measure 11 were working under the same organization as before, the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families.
http://www.sdhealthyfamilies.org
We had volunteers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and other states. Many of the volunteers were young women, we had those of both genders, a noticeable lesbian presence, and a wide age range. Three of the volunteers were women medical students, who had taken time off from their very busy studies to help fight this misguided law. Their dedication is to be truly admired. Including the staff, we had a little over 80 people.
After checking in at our motel, we gathered at the campaign H.Q. to do an evening of phone banking. The next morning we started off with some training for door knocking, and then took off in teams of two, four to a car, to door knock parts of Souix Falls, and surrounding towns. After a lunch break, most of the volunteers went out to door knock until 8:00
On Sunday, we checked out of our motel, and went to the headquarters to do phone banking, sign making, and envelope stuffing. We then went to a demonstration near the headquarters of voteyesforlife.com. Most motorists there seemed supportive. Right after the demonstration, as we were getting our group photo, it started to rain. We shot the photos, and ran for the cars.
After a lunch of pizza and submarine sandwiches, we did some more phone banking, and envelope stuffing, with groups leaving as travel required. There was often intense sharing, and I am sure that there will be lasting memories.
*I know that I have many from two years ago, and I will have many from this experience.*
The Minnesota group was among the last to leave. With a relatively short drive, I was home by 9:00.
Peace and Love, Bruce Chris
On the afternoon of October 5 a group of volunteers boarded a bus for Sioux Falls South Dakota. We were going there to work against Ballot Measure 11, a law that would ban all abortions except for narrow exemptions in the case of rape or incest. Two years earlier, the same law had been proposed without the exceptions as Ballot Measure 6, and defeated. I had volunteered for that effort, too.
Note: Measure 11, in addition to being very restrictive, is also punitive and in places, downright bizarre. Punishments of up to 10 years in prison are called for for anyone involved. The measure also required that after an abortion, every possible measure be taken to maintain the life of the aborted fetus! Details:
http://www.readthefineprint.org/readthefineprint/
The people who were working with us against measure 11 were working under the same organization as before, the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families.
http://www.sdhealthyfamilies.org
We had volunteers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and other states. Many of the volunteers were young women, we had those of both genders, a noticeable lesbian presence, and a wide age range. Three of the volunteers were women medical students, who had taken time off from their very busy studies to help fight this misguided law. Their dedication is to be truly admired. Including the staff, we had a little over 80 people.
After checking in at our motel, we gathered at the campaign H.Q. to do an evening of phone banking. The next morning we started off with some training for door knocking, and then took off in teams of two, four to a car, to door knock parts of Souix Falls, and surrounding towns. After a lunch break, most of the volunteers went out to door knock until 8:00
On Sunday, we checked out of our motel, and went to the headquarters to do phone banking, sign making, and envelope stuffing. We then went to a demonstration near the headquarters of voteyesforlife.com. Most motorists there seemed supportive. Right after the demonstration, as we were getting our group photo, it started to rain. We shot the photos, and ran for the cars.
After a lunch of pizza and submarine sandwiches, we did some more phone banking, and envelope stuffing, with groups leaving as travel required. There was often intense sharing, and I am sure that there will be lasting memories.
*I know that I have many from two years ago, and I will have many from this experience.*
The Minnesota group was among the last to leave. With a relatively short drive, I was home by 9:00.
Peace and Love, Bruce Chris