Pro-choice supporters plan national protest

Pro-choice supporters are gearing up for a national day of protest on the Saturday before the Cairns abortion case goes to trial. The trial has been set down for October 12.

Rallies will be held across the country on October 9 to demand the dropping of the charges brought under Queensland’s anti-abortion laws against a couple in Cairns.

“When a woman and her partner are facing trial under the abortion laws, it is time to take action”, said Pro-Choice Action Collective activist, Kathy Newnam.

“The Bligh government have tried to distract attention from the facts of the case by claiming that the charges are related to the way the abortion took place. This is a lie. The charges that the couple are facing have been brought under the anti-abortion laws.

“For years, women in Queensland have been assured that the anti-abortion laws were a ‘dead letter’ – that they would never be used. Now a young woman and her partner are facing trial under these laws and facing the prospect of years in prison.

“These charges should not have been brought in the first place because the laws should not exist. Abortion is a woman’s right to choose. It should not be a crime.

“This case threatens to set a dangerous new precedent on the abortion laws and supporters of abortion rights are determined to build a campaign that the Bligh government cannot ignore.

“We will not stand by silently while a young woman and her partner face trial under these rotten laws. Around the country, supporters of abortion rights will rally to demand the dropping of the charges.

“We will send the message loud and clear right across the country that we will not stand back while our rights are taken away. This case has already had a massive impact on the lives of one young couple — but if the charges are upheld, it has the potential to destroy many more lives as it emboldens the anti-abortion forces. Pro-choice supporters will not let that happen.

“On October 9, we will take to the streets to demand free, safe, accessible abortion on demand in such a show of force that the government will no longer be able to ignore our demands – drop the abortion charges, repeal the anti-abortion laws”.

A planning meeting will be held on Monday July 26 to mobilise support for the national day of action.

Pro-Choice Action Collective planning meeting:
Monday July 26, 6:30pm. TLC Building (2nd Floor),
16 Peel St, South Brisbane. Phone: 0400 720 757.
www.prochoiceactionqld.org

Pro-choice supporters to take action at Bligh’s office
Repeal the anti-abortion laws now

Pro-choice supporters will take action at Premier Bligh’s electorate office on Monday July 12, 2010.

Pro-Choice Action Collective activist, Kathy Newnam said “we will be protesting to demand Bligh take immediate action to repeal the anti-abortion laws.

“The recent Medical Journal of Australia report once again confirms the overwhelming support that exists for a woman’s right to choose abortion. Yet the Bligh government not only continues to refuse to repeal the laws, but they are supporting the prosecution of a couple in Cairns under these laws.

“The Cairns case is threatening to set a dangerous new precedent on the abortion laws and threaten access to legal abortion. We will not stand by and allow this to happen. There is only one solution and it is a solution that has the support of the majority of people – the anti-abortion laws must be repealed.

“For many years women in this state have taken the assurances of the government that the laws would not be used, that they were a dead letter. These assurances have counted for less than nothing.

“Bligh thinks that her government can ignore our demands. Bligh thinks that her government can get away with isolating the Cairns case and allowing a young woman and her partner to face trial under these rotten laws.

“On Monday our action will take our message to Bligh’s office: supporters of abortion rights will not allow this government to continue to ignore our demands.

“The trial date for the Cairns case has not yet been set down. But across the country, pro-choice supporters are preparing for action. On the Saturday before the trial begins, there will be a national day of protest, with demonstrations taking place in cities right across the country.

“The government is already under pressure to repeal the anti-abortion laws. This pressure is only going to increase in coming months. In the end, they only have one option: listen to the demands of the people and repeal the anti-abortion laws”.

Speakout for the repeal of anti-abortion laws
Monday July 12, 12 noon.
Meeting on the corner of Russell St and Boundary St (at the Lizard) before
marching at 12:30pm to Anna Bligh’s electorate office on Vulture Street

For more information contact the Pro-Choice Action Collective – 0400 720 757 (Kathy).

A recent report in the Medical Journal of Australia confirms once again that an overwhelming majority of people in Australia support a woman’s right to choose abortion. Yet the Queensland government continues to refuse to repeal this state’s archaic anti-abortion laws. Not only this, but they have defended the use of these laws to charge a couple in Cairns, who will face trial under the anti-abortion laws with the prospect of years in prison if the charges are upheld.

According to sources inside the ALP, if Bligh were to back a bill to repeal the anti-abortion laws, such a bill would gain a clear majority in parliament. But Bligh and her government continue to make excuses and create distractions. They will continue to do so until there is a movement too strong for them to ignore. A movement that voices the demand of the majority – for the immediate repeal of all anti-abortion laws. Add your voice to the campaign to demand immediate action. Join the speakout:

No more excuses, no more distractions:
Repeal all anti-abortion laws – NOW!

Speakout: Monday July 12
Meet at 12 noon
on the corner of Boundary Street and Russell Street (at the lizard statue)
for a march to Anna Bligh’s West End office
Click here to join the Facebook event and invite your friends

The Medical Journal of Australia: Australian attitudes to early and late abortion (click here to read the report)

Organised by the Pro-Choice Action Collective
Email: prochoiceaction@gmail.com
Phone: 0400 720 757, 0422 753 225
www.prochoiceactionqld.org

Click here to download the Pro-Choice Action Collective newsletter – featuring reports about the growing national support for the campaign against the abortion charges in Cairns.

On Saturday June 26, the anti-abortion group “Cherish Life” will hold their annual conference at Queensland Parliament House. Speak-out against those who are organising to force women back to the days of dangerous backyard abortion. Join the protest for abortion rights: Drop the abortion charges! Repeal all anti-abortion laws! Free, safe, accessible abortion on demand!

Saturday, June 26, 2010
9:00am – 10:30am
Outside Queensland Parliament House
Alice St entrance

“Pro-life” – your name’s a lie, you don’t care if women die!

Organised by the Pro-Choice Action Collective
www.prochoiceactionqld.org

National rally for abortion rights
Sydney, Saturday May 29, 2010
Join the Brisbane contingent

The global attack by right wing forces on women’s abortion rights is being felt in Australia. In Cairns a young couple faces trial and and the prospect of years in prison on charges brought under the anti-abortion laws. The so called “Right To Life” has chosen Sydney to host its international conference. This meeting of anti-abortion groups around the world may embolden their Australian affiliates.

On May 29th 2010, the first-ever national rally for abortion rights will be held in Sydney. Pro-choice people will rally to support the view that abortion is a woman’s right to choose. This is a chance for people across Australia to call for free, safe, accessible abortion on demand in all states and territories. As part of this, the rally will show solidarity with the Queensland campaign to drop the charges against the Cairns couple and decriminalise abortion.

The Pro-Choice Action Collective is organising a contingent from Brisbane to attend the rally and we need your help. Can you help with any of the following:

* Cars/drivers for car pooling *

* Donations to help cover the cost of the trip. Please send cheques/money orders to to Pro-Choice Action Collective – PO Box 8254, Woolloongabba or email us for the bank details for direct transfers

* Spread the word. Click here to join the Facebook group and invite your friends

If you would like any more information, please get in contact: prochoiceaction@gmail.com or 0400 720 757

Rally details:
March and rally for a woman’s right to choose abortion
MARTIN PLACE, Sydney
11am ~ Saturday, 29th May, 2010
www.waac.org.au

Download rally poster here

Featuring:

Pear & The Awkward Orchestra
http://www.pearandtheawkwardorchestra.com

Ofa Fanaika (from Chocolate Strings)

Anarchist Duck
http://www.myspace.com/anarchistduck

Girl With Cake
http://www.myspace.com/girlwithcake88

Eden Must Burn
http://www.myspace.com/edenmustburn

The Globe, 220 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley
Saturday 17th April
Doors open from 7pm

Tickets: $15/$10 concession
Pre-sale tickets available at OzTix
http://globetheatre.oztix.com.au/default.aspx?Event=14671

A Cairns woman faces seven years imprisonment for having an abortion
because it remains on Queensland’s criminal code. This is one of the
most serious attacks on women’s rights in Australia in decades -
Abortion is a Woman’s right to choose!

Come show your support for the pro-choice movement and catch some
great Brisbane bands at the Pro-Choice or No-Choice Benefit Gig at the
Globe from 7pm Saturday April 17.

Activism never sounded so good!

Bring your friends and help raise awareness of this disgraceful attack on women’s rights. We must pressure the Government to repeal the laws. The charges must be dropped!

Join the Facebook event & invite your friends

Download gig poster

Download gig flyer

Week of action to be launched at International Women’s Day rally.

The Pro-Choice Action Collective will launch a week of action at this Saturday’s International Women’s Day rally to be held at 10:30am in King George Square.

The week of action will be held in the lead up to the “Abortion is a woman’s right to choose” protest that will take place on March 13 – which is being held to coincide with a rally organised by a coalition of anti-abortion groups including the far-right National Civic Council.

According to Pro-Choice Action Collective activist, Kathy Newnam “we are calling on all supporters of women’s rights to take a stand against the bigotry of the anti-abortion movement. The aim of the anti-abortion movement is the complete banning of abortion. While they have the right to their quaint religious views about conception and life they have no right whatsoever to enforce their views on women.

“The fact is that abortion is not a social problem, it is a solution to the problem of unwanted pregnancies. It is a social necessity. That is why women always have and always will have abortion.

“Women have fought long and hard to win the access to abortion that exists today. We will not sit back quietly while these extremists try to take that away from us.

“We know only too well that we cannot take the access to abortion that does exist for granted – right now a woman in Cairns is facing the prospect of seven years prison on charges brought under Queensland’s anti-abortion laws. The Bligh government’s refusal to act in this case and ongoing refusal to repeal the anti-abortion laws puts them firmly in the camp of the anti-abortion bigots.

“The hypocrisy of the anti-abortion movement is sickening. They call themselves “pro-life” but they care nothing of the tens of thousands of women who are condemned to death every year because they are unable to access safe abortion.

“The anti-abortion movement is fighting hard to deny our rights. While they have the support of significant sections of the political establishment, we have the support of the vast majority – 80% of people in Australia support a women’s right to choose abortion.

“On March 8 we will launch a week of action which will see pro-choice supporters taking to the campuses, high schools and out on the streets campaigning to mobilise this support.

“On March 13 we will remember our sisters who have died because they could not access safe abortion. We will take a stand for the rights of all women to free, safe and accessible abortion on demand. We will not be silent in the face of anti-women bigotry”.

Pro-Choice Action Collective week of action launch:
International Women’s Day rally – Saturday March 6, 10:30am, King George Square, city.

Abortion is a woman’s right to choose protest:
Saturday March 13, 12 noon, outside Parliament House.

For more information or comments phone Kathy Newnam 0400 720 757