On behalf of the National Organization for Women, I want to extend our most sincere appreciation for your work. Without your bravery and commitment to reproductive rights, women across the country would not have access to exercise our constitutional right.

NOW is determined that reproductive healthcare and abortion remain legal, safe and accessible . . . and we believe that the power of community-based organizing is at the heart of this campaign.  Nothing is more powerful than a strong grassroots membership coupled with a nationwide crew of dedicated abortion providers. We applaud your leadership in this fight.

As we continue to face legislative attacks as well as violent attacks on our right to reproductive freedom, NOW launched a postcard campaign during the celebration of Roe v. Wade. One hundred thousand postcards are being disseminated across the country and will be delivered en masse to the Speaker of the House. Even with a President who supports abortion rights, over 80 anti-abortion bills have passed since right-wing Republicans took over Congress in 1994. Solid pro-choice representatives make up only 30% of the U.S. House and 33% of the Senate!  The new Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert is 100% anti-abortion, and the religious extremist faction of the Republican party is still shaping the Congressional agenda.

A massive public outcry could convince the new Republican leadership, despite its long-standing anti-abortion voting records, not to make opposition to abortion a priority on its legislative agenda as the country heads into the elections in 2000.  The postcard campaign will also help build the network of abortion rights supporters. We are offering free postcards that you can place in your clinic.  Please call Angela Arboleda at 202-331-0066 extension 766 to place your order.

Every week NOW activists and other clinic escorts across the country stand up with you against anti-abortion protesters who try to block access to clinics and intimidate patients, doctors and staff.  And as you know all too well, every month clinics are subject to firebombs, acid attacks and other destruction. An average of two violent attacks occur each month. Yet most people are absolutely unaware of this campaign of terror because it receives so little media coverage. After Dr. Slepian's murder, the Rev. Donald Spitz, founder of Pro-Life Virginia, called the killer a hero carrying out his Christian duty. The many vigils organized with you by NOW and others after this most recent murder, sent a powerful message across the country.

Twelve years of litigation in NOW v. Scheidler finally paid off with a big win on April 20, 1998, when a federal jury in Chicago unanimously confirmed what we've known all along -- that Joe Scheidler, Operation Rescue, and their co-defendants are racketeers who orchestrate a nationwide campaign designed to stop abortion through fear, force and violence.

NOW's long standing fight for legal, safe and accessible abortion and reproductive healthcare could not be possible without dedicated providers like yourselves. We will continue to support you with litigation, legislative initiatives, clinic defense and pro-choice demonstrations. We pledge to work in partnership with you to ensure women's access to reproductive health.

Thank you for your tremendous leadership on behalf of reproductive rights.