Oklahomans rally at State Capitol to protest anti-choice law that would post abortion details online

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/09/oklahoma-protest-abortion/

Oklahomans rally at State Capitol to protest anti-choice law that would post abortion details online.


Oklahoma recently passed a law (HR 1595) that will collect personal details about every single abortion performed in the state and post them on a public website. Critics of the legislation worry that the information could be used to identify individuals. Portions of the law were supposed to take effect on Nov. 1, but a judge delayed activation pending the outcome of a legal challenge. On Friday, approximately 100 people gathered at the State Capitol in Oklahoma to protest HR 1595, in an attempt to better inform Oklahoma residents about what’s going on:

Shagah Zakerion, one of the organizers of the rally to protest House Bill 1595, said many of her fellow students at the University of Oklahoma were unaware the measure had passed until it drew criticism in the national media.

“We didn’t even know the bill was going through our Legislature let alone that it had already passed,” said Zakerion, a senior from Tulsa, before the rally, which attracted about 100 people. “We need to stop this stuff before it turns into law, and we need to build a coalition of Oklahomans that are not only for reproductive justice but also for progressive issues.

“There are people here, and there are youth here who aren’t going to sit back and let legislation like this get passed again,” she said.

In an interview with ThinkProgress, Oklahoma state Rep. Jeannie McDaniel (D), an outspoken opponent of the legislation, lamented the anti-woman atmosphere in the state legislature. “Each of the successive five years, there has been a bill introduced in the Oklahoma legislature regarding women’s reproductive rights,” she said, adding, “Each year, it creeps a little more toward taking away women’s freedoms, more restrictions between the doctors.”

[Jamastiene]

1. That law is a violation of privacy rights, im-ns-ho.

I hope I'm not the only one left on DU who is pro choice.

[babylonsister]

2. You're not-I'm still pro-choice as are many of us. nt

[havocmom]

3. You're not the only one here at DU, though it seems our ranks are dwindling.

Too many seem willing to give away portions of the population (GLBT, women, who's next?) to get some crumbs from the table of the shot-calling class.

I've evolved to the point of advocating forced implanting of embryos/fetuses into the bodies of the forced birthers, men and women both.

If they REALLY are committed to saving 'babies' they can prove it by gestating and raising the ones other people would choose to abort, or they can STFU.

If they are just trying to vent their frustration that they can't control everyone else, they can STFU and kiss my old wrinkled ass.

You aren't the only pro-choice DUer left here :hi:

[valerief]

4. Wow, these folks are brave to do this in the completely backwards, Dark Ages state of OK.

Bravo.
:applause:

[RoyGBiv]

5. Well there's your problem ...

"We didn’t even know the bill was going through our Legislature let alone that it had already passed."

Vast numbers of people directly affected by such legislation pay absolutely no attention until it's too late.

I understand the Daily Oklahoma is a right-wing rag, but it doesn't hurt to read it to find out what's going on in the legislature at least. Also, this was mentioned in the Oklahoma Gazette repeatedly prior to passage.

My daughter, who attends OU, knew about it and tried to approach several groups to try to raise awareness. "Oh, that'll never pass" was the typical refrain.

[yellowcanine]

6. Violates Federal Law (HIPAA) Dead in the water.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Insurance_Portability_and_Accountability_Act