Happy Anniversary, Roe!

January 22, 2008, marks the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide — so pause for a moment and wish those reproductive freedoms you may have taken for granted a very happy anniversary!

Of course, this day isn’t all about celebrations.  You’d think — after all this time — that politicians and ideologues in this country would have better things to do than try and take away the rights that allow us to determine whether and when to have children.  

But as Planned Parenthood knows all too well, they don’t.  

From the harassment of clinic patients and staff, to the passage of anti-choice legislation, these extremists are unyielding in their efforts to keep women, men, and teens from accessing the health care they need.  And the worst part is, the battle isn’t just being waged over abortion, but over access to contraception and medically accurate sex education, too — the very things that help prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion.

To commemorate 35 years since Roe, Planned Parenthood’s advocacy and political arm — the Planned Parenthood Action Fund — is launching a One Million Strong Campaign to mobilize people who care about women’s health in 2008.

With One Million Strong, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund will make women’s health issues a campaign priority for all the candidates, and defeat anti-choice ballot initiatives in communities across America.

Visit the Planned Parenthood Action Fund website today to learn more about how you can get involved and join the campaign.

And help us ensure that Roe will still have an anniversary to celebrate 35 years from now.

•  Pro-Choice Lobby Day here in Virginia

  Jan 31st!  Can't wait!

  Great diary!  I hope to see lots of them today (maybe focus on our commonalities instead of all these I HATE YOUR CANDIDATE diaries!!!) because in the end all our nominees are pro-choice and I'd trust Roe in any of their hands!

  by idealistlefty on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:45:47 AM PDT

•  So Sorry 2 Hear U Having 2 Fight Prog. Talk Radio

  I've notified owners and program hosts of Seattle's progressive talk that I will not support stations that fight progressive causes. The minute I hear the anti-Roe V Wade ad they've been running, I switch them off for an hour and email the producer of whatever show is airing.

  I never stick my nose into business advertising, I want the format to succeed, but running deceptive purely political anti-progressive ads I won't tolerate.

  by Gooserock on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:47:26 AM PDT

•  You guys

  kick ass. Thanks for all that you do.

  by MBNYC on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:49:12 AM PDT

•  and THANK YOU PLANNED PARENTHOOD!

  if it were not for your fine organisation, women's reproductive health would be more difficult to obtain.  thank you for all you do.

  by anna on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:01:21 AM PDT

•  I had to stop supporting Planned Parenthood...

  ...because a young woman whom I took to the Birmingham clinic was treated rudely and unfeelingly, including an abstinence lecture which was completely inappropriate. She ended up going to the private clinic in town where she was treated kindly and with consideration. Also the Birmingham clinic is seedy and dirty-looking, the staff is disorganized and never can seem to give you correct information about appointments.

  Then I had to stop supporting NARAL because of their awful endorsements in the 2004 race. That's what I tell them every time they call, and they've never had a good answer or even a "we'll do better next time."

  Thanks to George Bush's economy I don't have a lot of money to donate to causes anyway, but I will keep up writing letters to the editor, protesting and speaking out.

  by Lisa in Bama on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 09:25:32 AM PDT

•  Thank Gawd for Miffy

  Depsite all of the draconian state laws passed in the last decade to curb choice, this is offering a safe and viable way for women to end unintended or dangerous pregnancies.

  Today I celebrate Planned Parenthood and mifepristone.  Our two best hopes for keeping abortion safe, legal and available.

  by gloryous1 on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 10:05:08 AM PDT

•  Thank you Planned Parenthood - Keep it up!

  I shudder to think where we would be without Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and other groups (NOW, Feminist Majority, etc.). They spend pretty much every single day fighting the never-ending anti-choice movement. The time, energy, and intelligence needed just to keep reproductive rights from sliding back, much less moving them forward, is astounding.

  The 35 year anniversary of Roe marks a crucial turning point for us. This next election is it. I hope that people realize how important the SCOTUS is when they are selecting their presidential candidate. Luckily for us, all three of the "top" Democratic candidates support no-restrictions abortion access. Now it's up to us to make sure that the Democratic  candidate, whomever he/she may be, wins in November.

  by natalie902 on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 03:09:56 PM PDT