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Attacks on Women's Reproductive Freedoms
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Breaking News: Attack on Women's Reproductive Freedoms
Supreme Court Upholds First Federal Abortion Ban Since Roe v. Wade Made Abortion Legal
Today the US Supreme Court upheld the Partial Birth Abortion Ban, which prohibits many second and third trimester abortions and has no exceptions for the health of the woman. The bill limits a physican's ability to make medical decisions as to what form of treatment is appropriate for her/his patient, as well as limiting a woman's ability to make her own reproductive decisions.
As socialist feminists, we are dismayed that this law not only chips away at abortion rights for all women, it hits especially hard for young women and poor and working-class women, who find it more difficult to obtain an early procedure.
Young women in states with parental notification or consent laws must either make preparations to travel to another state (though getting help from a non-parent or guardian to do so is now illegal in some states) or go through the lengthy process of obtaining a judicial bypass from a judge. Working-class and poor women often receive second-trimester abortions because they lack immediate funds for an earlier procedure, lack health insurance and fail to receive timely care and medical advice, and/or lack the ability to immediately travel to one of the only 13% of US counties where they can see an abortion provider.
YDSers are encouraged to attend or organize emergency events and rallies in your community to publicize this attack. Contact the YDS Feminist Issues Coordinator Mary Smith for ideas and/or if you're interested in participating in the YDS Feminism Committee. Mary Smith can be reached at thewindcriesmary@hotmail.com
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MAY DAY 2007 - Continue the Fight for Immigrant Rights
Amid Tragedy and Victory, the Struggle Continues
The Immigrant Rights Movement has lost one of our own; Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) organizer Santiago Rafael Cruz was found tied up and beaten to death in FLOC's Monterrey, Mexico office. He had been working with FLOC to help Mexican guest workers going to North Carolina process their visas and fight corruption in the recruitment process. Cruz's murder demonstrates how far the powerful will go to maintain the capitalist system.
While the movement for justice is consistently under attack, we have had some critical successes as well. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (a Floridian community-based labor organization) has reached an agreement with McDonald?s. With just the threat of a nationwide boycott, CIW won wage increases for migrant farm workers. Victories like this prove that migrant workers, among the most exploited workers who can not even legally form unions, can win justice.
The Young Democratic Socialists calls on our members, organizing committees, and chapters to support and attend their local May Day Immigrant Rights Rallies and participate in other immigrant rights activities like the CIW campaign. We also challenge you to publicly articulate, in the course of that activism, that capitalism and right-wing populism are the true problem because they divide workers that should be natural allies in the struggle for justice.
On May 1st, countless communities will host rallies, marches and other events for immigrant rights. Here are some ideas for your own events, which you can use to help recruit for rallies or simply to raise awareness in your community:
- Hold a fundraiser event (party, bake sale, or tabling on campus, etc.) for FLOC and publicize the brutality that immigrant workers and their supporters face;
- Screen a movie about immigrant rights;
- Invite a speaker from a local immigrant rights organization to speak on campus;
- Table and have students sign a petition to your Senators against a guest worker program;
- Read up on the CIW campaigns against Taco Bell and McDonalds and have a mini-teach in about the victories and the next steps against the new target, Burger King.
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Social Justice Internships
Heating Up for the Summer
We know that students don't want to stop their activism during the summer break. Here are some internship positions with us and others so you can continue the fight for social justice. YDS has flexible hours (5-20) and can develop a work schedule that fits your goals and availability. Because we do not have the funds to pay interns, YDS can help you find summer work in New York.
YDS Office Support/Grassroots Organizer
YDS is looking for an intern who has the skills, vision, and drive to help build our organization both locally and nationally. Responsibilities may include supporting the work of the National Office, tracking and documenting the work of our locals, coordinating and attending New York activities, and projects designed by the intern and YDS staff.
YDS Event Planner
This internship is an opportunity to develop both event-planning skills and promote left-wing politics. Responsibilities for this position may include assisting in planning for the YDS summer conference, coordinating and attending New York events such as demonstrations and teach-ins, working with speakers, and any projects designed by the intern and YDS staff.
To learn more click here. You can also send your resume to yds@dsausa.org with the subject line "INTERNSHIP"
LABOR NOTES -- The magazine that puts the movement back in labor movement
Labor Notes sponsors an ongoing internship program. Internships last 3-6 months, with flexible start and end dates. Interns will be based in Detroit and provide with housing. Responsibilities include office support and writing a monthly column. This is an excellent opportunity for any labor activist who wants to be involved with an organization that is consistently working to better the union movement. To learn more click here. You can also email mark@labornotes.org.
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Save the Date: August 11-12, East Coast Location TBA
The Summer Conference is the time that YDS members and allies get together to prepare for the coming year in a relaxed and friendly retreat environment. This gathering will have more of a focus on workshops, trainings, and bonding. This is also the opportunity for us to plan our next National Priority Project and select new YDS leadership. We look forward to seeing you all there...
...But we need your summer contact info! If you are graduating, moving for the summer, or just got a new cell phone please send us your new contact information. This is the best way to be kept in touch about upcoming YDS activities and the summer conference. Send your information to yds@dsausa.org. |
