Comments on: Exciting local news

By: Marysia

Marysia — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:16:22 +0000

Jen–I have something for you, related to the above discussion, but no current email for you. Please contact me at editor@nonviolentchoice.info

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:09:03 +0000

Jen, i’m pretty sure I will be attending the forum you’re talking about. Will you be there? I’d very much like to meet you in person.

And oh yes, count me in on any radical, reproductive justice-type organization you all come up with!

Sarah

By: captcrisis

captcrisis — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:06:02 +0000

Really great news.

By: Marysia

Marysia — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:10:05 +0000

How to start an organization?
Just do it!
Probably the easiest thing to do would be to have some coalition of existing groups and interested individuals, centered around an online manifesto and action items.

By: Jen R

Jen R — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:31:27 +0000

Oh, and I meant early to mid-90s. Oops. :)

By: Jen R

Jen R — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:30:25 +0000

What does it take to get an organization started? ::ponders::

By: Marysia

Marysia — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:20:29 +0000

Jen, I joined FFLA in 1986, and I distinctly remember a much more strongly, authentically feminist organization that had no qualms about supporting women’s right to freedom of conscience in prevention. It was also more responsive to the concerns of the members.

The SBA List is a separate organization. It was originally founded by the undeniably leftist Rachel MacNair, but it was quickly coopted by rightwing antiabortionists and seems very focused on putting and keeping candidates of that sort in office. Sigh…

I’d like a deeply radical organization like the one you imagine, too, one that takes a “reproductive justice” approach. The Nonviolent Choice Directory is an effort to fill that void in part. But I have been wondering what else can be done, so that people like you and me can join and stand up and be counted. After all, for one, something like 85% of prolifers in the US support a right to contraception. There must be more of us around…

I’m thinking about drafting some kind of manifesto and inviting people to endorse it, just for starters…

By: Jen R

Jen R — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:09:24 +0000

It was a combination of things. Really, ever since the group moved to Washington, I’ve felt that it was playing it safe, not wanting to offend the establishment pro-lifers. The explicitly feminist rhetoric I was used to in the early to mid-80s gave way to more soft-focus “pro-woman” language that could mean just about anything. FFL used to take a position that women have a right to contraception, but they’ve dropped that. They put a lot more focus on celebrities, including honoring some people whose claim to feminism is pretty shaky. The Susan B. Anthony List doesn’t even require candidates to be self-identified feminists, as far as I know, although I don’t think they’re an official part of FFL. FFL also just doesn’t seem responsive to the membership; at least, I was never able to get any replies to my emails or phone calls toward the end.

I’d like a radical feminist organization that’s out there explicitly making the connections between sexism, racism, economic injustice, and abortion. I don’t know if FFL really was that group, or if I’m just remembering it rosily, but it’s not that group now.

By: Marysia

Marysia — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:11:26 +0000

Jen, that is great news!
I agree, that Feminists for Life’s work on college campuses is its strong suit.
So what specifically has parted your way from FFL’s? I can begin to imagine, but will leave the telling to you.