The initiative gained ballot status through a campaign spearheaded by James Holman, a millionaire who is the publisher of Los Angeles Mission, San Francisco Faith, and San Diego News Notes, and has been part of abortion clinic blockades.

In 1997 the California Supreme Court struck down a similar law, on the grounds that it violated the state constitution’s guarantee of the right to privacy. Proposition 73 seeks to get around this ruling by amending the state constitution. Similar laws are in force in 34 of the 50 U.S. states.

In addition to its restrictions on access to abortion, the proposed law would define abortion as causing “the death of the unborn child, a child conceived but not yet born.” This is designed to set the tone for further attacks on women’s right to choose abortion.

“This proposition is aimed at chipping away at a woman’s right to choose abortion,” said Diana Newberry, Socialist Workers Party candidate for City Council District 14, talking with participants at the October 1 event. “Women should have the right to control our own bodies” (see also statement above).

The “No on 73: Campaign for Teen Safety” is organized by a coalition of dozens of organizations. They include the California Medical Association, California Nurses Association, Planned Parenthood, American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Feminist Majority, and California NOW.

At the Campaign for Teen Safety kickoff event held at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, speakers included Congresswoman Maxine Waters, State Senator Gloria Romero, and State Assembly member Judy Chu. Many pointed out that the proposition is aimed at rolling back a woman’s right to choose and will push some teenagers into unsafe, illegal abortions. One of the examples used was the case of Becky Bell, a teenager from Indiana who died in 1988 from a back-alley abortion after a parental notification law went into effect. The coalition puts forward that “you can’t legislate good family communication” and “prevention and strong families are the real solutions.” A number of speakers railed against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Upcoming activities against Proposition 73 include an educational forum in Los Angeles October 19 and one in San Diego the next day. In weekly phone-banking nights at Planned Parenthood offices throughout Los Angeles proponents of a woman’s right to choose abortion will urge people to vote “no.” The Feminist Majority is organizing on campuses in the region to get out information on this attack on access to abortion, and to build a regional conference in November.

Newberry and SWP campaign supporters have been speaking out on this question on the job, at plant gates, candidates’ forums, and media interviews, including in a statement that will be broadcast on the city access television channel prior to the November 8 election.
 
 
Related articles:
Socialist candidates in California: abortion, a woman’s right to choose!  
 
 
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