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Abortion: Information and Overview
JENNIFER AND FAITH'S    
 ABORTION INFORMATION PAGE
IN THE COURTS

ROE V. WADE

In 1973, the Supreme Court handed down a decision legalizing abortion in the
United States.  At the time of this landmark decision, abortion was illegal in
two thirds of states, although "back alley" abortions were common place and
most often deadly.  For the past 26 years various factions in the United States
have attempted to challenge the court's decision, trying to once again make
abotion illegal.  



THE BATTLE RAGES ON

Protecting a women's right to have an abortion, although seemingly secured with the decision of Roe v. Wade, is anything but.  There have been numerous attempts by anti-abortion groups to bring about the end of legalized abortion by attempting to pass laws which redefine "conception", implement notification laws, and in some cases by inducing strict restrictions on abortion practicioners.  Many Americans recognize the war being waged on Roe v. Wade, and groups such as the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League and Planned Parenthood have taken the lead in fighting these attempts to restrict women's reproductive health care.


A women's right to choose has become severly dependent upon the state in which she lives.  Many states because of their bias concerning abortion, place unneeded restrictions on women seeking abortions.  For instance these states  subject women to waiting periods, parental notification requirements and out-of-pocket payment for services although they would qualify for state-sponsored health care.  These hurdles placed by states are merely an attempt to make abortions so difficult and inconvient to obtain that they will be illegal by de facto.

MYTHS AND FACTS

Many anti-abortion groups have attempted to gather support for the abolition of abortion by evoking hysteria through the dissemination of false information.  Many of these groups have done so by stating that abortion is harmful to a women's health.  The fact is however, that since the passage of Roe v. Wade, abortions have become not only legal but safer as well.  By providing safe, clean facilities and well trained practitioners, abortion has become safer and less harmful to women's health than many more widely performed medical procedures.  
     Welcome to the webpage of Jennifer Custer and Faith Passy.  As graduate students at American University, we have been assigned the task of creating a web page on the issue of abortion.  We have tried to be impartial and nonpartisan in our views, and links.  However, we are both staunch supporters of the Pro-Choice movement, and therefore this page has a liberal edge to it.

If you have any problems with the views expressed here, you can email Jennifer Custer.

Hope you enjoy the information, links and history that we have provided for you!
CLINIC VIOLENCE

Domestic terrorism aimed at women's health clinics has become epidimic in the last 20 or more years.  Clinics have been bombed causing injury to staff and practitioners, and numerous physicians have been severly injured or even murdered by anti-abortion fanatics.  Although abortions are performed at these facilities, the fact remains that a wide range of services are also provided to women, the only health care option for many.  Regardless of one's views on the issue of abortion, women deserve to have safe, affordable health care without the threat of injury and violence.  

Judge for yourself!  The facts speak for themselves.  A chronology of Abortion-Related Murders and Shootings.

In 1994, Congress passed the Freedom of Access to Clinics Entrance Act (FACE), which imposes "criminal penalties and civil remedies for certain violent, threatening, obstructive and destructive conduct that is intended to injure, intimidate and interfere with persons seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services."  This act attempts to ensure that women have the right to obtain safe, affordable health care without fear or intimidation or violence.  FACE has proven effective in deterring clinic violence, due to the threat of criminal and civil penalties, as blockades and other types of violence has fallen to an all time low.  However, the threat still exists.  It will take vigilance and dedication of the part of all persons to ensure that women and practitioners at these clinics remain safe.
ELECTION 2000

The upcoming Presidential election is vital to the survival of the Roe v. Wade
decision, as the next President will have the power to appoint judges to
replace those who are likely to retire within the next term.  It is imperative that
 the newly elected President place women's reproductive health at the
forefront of his agenda in order to protect not only Roe v. Wade, but women's health in general.
MIFEPRISTONE

Since its approval in 1988 in France, mifepristone has become a safe and effective alternative to surgical abortion.  Between 1994 and 1995 2,121 women in the United States participated in clinical trials of mifepristone, which found the drug to be effective in preventing 92% of pregnancies.  If approved, Mifepristone may offer women more privacy in the abortion decision, along with greater personal control over the process of pregnancy termination.  
Despite its proven medical effectiveness, the drug has yet to become approved for use in the United States.  Although in 1996 the FDA  issued a letter for mifepristone finding it safe and effective, it required the manufacturer to provide further manufacturing and labeling information before final approval.  Although a manufacturer had been found to manufacture and distribute the drug in the United States the arrangement fell throuh, and in 1997 the manufacturer backed out.  This coupled with anti-abortion legislators attaching amendments to federal spending bills which would prevent the FDA from spending federal funds on the testing and development of drugs to induce abortions, has further delayed the introduction mifepristone in the United States.  
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Abortion is only one facet of women's reproductive health.  Too often abortion takes the center stage in the debate concerning women, and the options they should have in seeking health care.  Reproductive health care should be safe and affordable for all women, and every person should seek to ensure so.  It is vital that women receive information as well as medical care in a safe and non-threatening enviornment, where they will be able to make their own choices regarding their reproductive health.
THE OPPOSITION
Regardless of one's views on the issue of abortion, it is important that the opinions expressed be based on fact, rather than fiction, and information rather than intuition.  Many claims have been made by anti-abortion groups, that abortion is unconstitutional.  One such group, the American Life League has made the claim that Roe v. Wade is unconstitutional, as there was no trial by jury preceeding the Supreme Court hearing the case.  

We challenge YOU to find abortion unconstitutional!  Here's a link to help.  


And when you can't find it, this is why BANS are unconstitutional.
PROTECTING OUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE

Ensuring that a women has the right to choose is imperative in ensuring women the best in reproducitve health care.  By not saying anything, you are letting a small majority of Americans make your decisions for you.  

Please make your voice heard.  Take a stand for all women!
CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN

Contact your Congressman to let them know you want to protect a women's right to choose.  

 

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