NOW NYS mobilized local activists on Dec 4th in NYC to stop Stupak/Pitts-like Amendments, banning abortion coverage, that may be included in the Senate Health Care Reform package.  Before the rally, I spoke with Bill Baird, founder of the Pro-Choice League who established the nation’s first abortion referral center in 1964, and was jailed for defending choice.  Hearing about a women dying in his arms as a result of a coat-hanger abortion was chilling.  Never Again.  Video coverage, provided by Peoples’ Movement.

Huge thanks to NOW-NYS for inviting me to speak and for organizing

VIEW VIDEO HERE- Select speeches marked below

* Erin Matson, Action Vice President, National NOW
* Marcia Pappas, President, NOW-New York State
* Sonia Ossorio, President, NOW-New York City (13:02)
* Julie Kirschner, Co-President, Brooklyn/Queens NOW (15:46)
* Rachelle Suissa , Co-President, Brooklyn/Queens NOW
* Marilyn Fitterman, Former NOW NYS President (15:15)
* Mary Richmond, President, Albany Area NOW (17:40)
* Zenaida Mendez, President, National Dominican Women’s Caucus (16:50)
* Jerin Alam, Chair of Young Feminist Task Force for NOW-NYS (18:13)
* Debra Sweet, Director of The World Can’t Wait (23:47)
* Maretta Short, President, New Jersey NOW (20:03)
* Sandy Rapp, Feminist Performer (2:20)
* Author Bill Baird, Abortion Rights Pioneer (9:31)
* Gaby Moreno, Secretary of NOW-NYS (22:59)
* Trudy Mason, NYS Committee Woman
* Betty Maloney, Radical Women (27:00)
* Meredith Villano, Co-Founder & Director, Paradigm Shift: NYC’s Feminist Community (29:10)
* Michelle Burns, Clinic Escort (32:23)
* Woman who had TTTS, and had to abort twins (34:22)
* Deputy Press Sec, Sen Schumer’s office (35:09)
more….

Bill Baird, abortion rights pioneer & Meredith Villano, PShift Co-Founder/ Director. photo courtesy of J. Alam

meredith