SUGGESTED ROE ANNIVERSARY ACTIONS

ABORTION RIGHTS SPEAK OUT

Invite women to share their stories of life before Roe. Invite medical providers to share their memories of illegal abortion and its impact on women's health and lives. Be creative. Hold the speak out in front of a court house, state or federal building or in an alley.

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

Light 25 candles to commemorate 25 years of struggle to protect abortion. Remember that candlelight vigils can be held indoors -- if you choose an appropriate location. Try holding yours in the local Unitarian Church, women's center or other significant building. If you can stand the cold, or live in a warm climate, have your vigil outside of a state or federal building.

PICKET

Target an anti-abortion legislator, member of Congress or other public official for a picket. Hand-out fliers and carry signs. (Be sure that all signs are double-sided. Otherwise cameras will catch pictures of activists holding blank signs.) Be sure to select a location with good visibility.

RALLY

Organize a rally in support of abortion rights. If the weather is a problem, you can rally indoors. Put together a program that includes a diverse group of speakers. Select a centrally located site and a convenient time. Be sure to use the event as an opportunity to generate opposition to the D&X ban. (Please contact the Action Center if you would like the Chapter Development Report on action organizing.)

BURMA SHAVE SIGNS

If you're low on activists, then get two or three friends to join you for a road-side demonstration. Make signs that can easily be read by passing motorists and pedestrians and set-up on a busy street. Be sure to have fliers or brochures to hand-out. Be sure to have a bucket handy to collect donations!

LEAFLET OR TABLE

It only takes one or two activists to hand-out fliers or staff a table. (If you don't have a folding table, try an ironing board.) Use the "25 Years . . . " piece as one side of your flier. On the other side, ask people to call and write to a public official or ask them to write letters-to-the-editor in support of abortion rights.

NEWS CONFERENCE/STATEMENT

If you are unable to organize an action, hold a news conference. Invite members of other progressive organizations to join your chapter. Be sure to include a diverse group of people, but limit yourself to eight to ten speakers. If a news conference is too much for your chapter to handle, then issue a news release or statement. Also consider generating letters to the editor in support of abortion rights generally or in opposition to the D&X ban.