London: Pro-Choice demo March 3rd 2006
Feb 2 2007
Dear sisters and brothers,
We're writing to ask for your help in building the protest for abortion rights due to take place on Saturday 3 March.
A copyable poster and leaflet can now be downloaded from: http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~jmr59/downloads/
On 21 October, more than 220 people attended the Feminist Fightback conference at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London to discuss issues including socialist feminism, LGBT liberation, women workers' struggles, low pay, sexual freedom, prostitution, women in the Middle East - and abortion rights. To mark the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act which legalised abortion in Britain, the organising session of the conference agreed to hold a torch-lit march for abortion rights in central London near International Women's Day (which is 8 March). With anti-choice right-wingers currently on the offensive, we believe that this protest is very important indeed.
We will be meeting on Saturday 3 March from 6.30pm at University of London Union on Malet Street (Goodge Street, Euston, Euston Square or Russell Square tube), to march followed by a rally. This event is open to all, men and women. We will be demanding:
- No reduction in the 24-week time limit for access to abortion.
- The right to abortion on demand (this means an end to having to get the consent of two doctors) up to the legal time limit.
- The extension of abortion rights to women in Northern Ireland.
- Abortion to be integrated into the NHS as an ordinary medical service.
- An end to privatisation and fragmentation in the NHS; increased public funding to guarantee free and equal access to abortion.
- Improved access to and increased choice of publicly funded contraception.
- Clear, honest, comprehensive and confidential sexuality and relationship education for all children which addresses issues of consent and domestic violence.
- A real 'right to choose' which also means the right to have a child free from economic and social pressure. This requires a real living wage for all workers, benefits which can be lived on and rise with earnings, universal publicly funded childcare and an end to the stigmatisation of single mothers.
Various things you can do:
- Officially support the march. If you, your women's group or other organisation would like to do so, just get in touch.
- Advertise the march as widely as possible by putting the information on websites, email lists etc, putting up posters, distributing leaflets (both of which can be downloaded for copying online).
- Bring a delegation on the march (if you can let us know in advance, that would be helpful for planning, but of course you can just turn up on the day - the more, the merrier!).
- Invite a speaker to your women's group etc to tell you more about the march, Feminist Fightback, ENS Women or feminist activism generally!
We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on 3 March!
In solidarity,
Debbie Hollingsworth and Laura Schwartz
Feminist Fightback organising team
Sofie Buckland
National Union of Students National Executive
www.fightback.org.uk / www.socialistfeminist.org.uk - team@fightback.org.uk - 07890 209 479 - Feminist Fightback, c/o Laura Schwartz, 8a Cheshire Street, London E2 6EH
Feb 25 2007
#2
rkn wrote:
I've re-done this thread a bit so people might read it and put it somewhere more relevant, because its just a copy and paste from somewhere.
Why? This is just an AWL front group! 
Feb 26 2007
#3
If you don't come, everyone will think you hate women.
Feb 26 2007
#4
If you go, you'll be wasting your time.
Feb 26 2007
#5
To be honest, given it's an 'issue of conscience' in parliament, and MPs are increasingly being pressured by a well organised lobby, I reckon it's one of the few times an A-B march could have an effect.
Feb 26 2007
#6
I'm not saying there's no way it could be effective.
I just think there's no way it will be effective.
Feb 27 2007
#7
jimmer wrote:
Why re-format it? its a front group!
Because it was badly formatted and in the wrong forum = meaningless. I saw no reason to delete it as it was an advert for a worthwhile enough cause so I stuck it in here and highlighted the relevant bit.
Feb 27 2007
#8
rkn wrote:
jimmer wrote:
Why re-format it? its a front group!Because it was badly formatted and in the wrong forum = meaningless. I saw no reason to delete it as it was an advert for a worthwhile enough cause so I stuck it in here and highlighted the relevant bit.
You're too soft! 
Mar 4 2007
#9
Just got back from this.
Jesus christ it was awful.
Mar 4 2007
#10
haha. should have come to the NHS picket. awful how?
Mar 4 2007
#11
Badly publicised (both in content [no mention of the fact that a bill to reduce the time limit is going through parliament later this month so most people didn't understand why this march was neccesary] and amount) - only a few hundred people there, about a fifth of them from Brighton. Stupid radical feminist slogans. And worst of all, no literature to hand out to the public. I thought trots were meant to be good at organising things?!
It could have been much better if more libertarian communists had been there, you should all feel ashamed
I would have gone on the NHS picket before if I'd known about it further in advance, maybe.
Mar 4 2007
#12
i knew one of the organisers, and only found out the day before! also our libertarian communist football team has yet to get 11 people in one place at the same time. but "we are going to inherit the earth, there cannot be the slightest doubt about that" 
I've re-done this thread a bit so people might read it and put it somewhere more relevant, because its just a copy and paste from somewhere.