[News-releases] Women's Rights Groups Announce Massive March onWashington in Support of Reproductive Rights

WOMEN'S RIGHTS GROUPS ANNOUNCE MASSIVE MARCH ON WASHINGTON IN SUPPORT OF 
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Washington, DC - Today the nation's leading women's rights groups announced 
that they have joined forces to organize an historic march on Washington 
for reproductive freedom.  Organized by the Feminist Majority, the National 
Organization for Women (NOW), NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned 
Parenthood Federation of America, Save Women's Lives: March for Freedom of 
Choice is set for April 25, 2004. Efforts to mobilize supporters of 
abortion and reproductive rights are already underway.

"Roe v. Wade hangs by a thread," said National Organization for Women (NOW) 
president Kim Gandy, "and rumored anti-abortion replacements on the Supreme 
Court could serve for the next 40 years.  In other words, the reversal of 
Roe would last for generations, and the entire reproductive life of my 
10-year-old daughter hinges on what we do in the coming year.  NOW will be 
mobilizing women and men across this country to March on Washington for our 
mothers, for our daughters, and for ourselves  there will never be a more 
important time to stand up for women's lives."

"Everywhere that I go in this country people come up and ask me: 'When are 
we going to march again?' The time is now. We must sound the alarm that 
women's fundamental rights are in danger," said Eleanor Smeal, president of 
the Feminist Majority. "The overwhelming majority of Americans will not go 
back to the days of back alley abortions."

"We have a simple message for anti-choice leaders who control the White 
House and  Congress  don't tread on us, don't tread on our right to choose 
and don't tread on our right to privacy."  Kate Michelman, President of 
NARAL Pro-Choice America concluded, "Americans will not stand by silently 
as our rights are trampled. Pro-choice Americans are on the move  ready to 
take to the streets to protect the health, lives and rights of American women."

"With nearly 900 health centers in 49 states providing reproductive health 
care and well-being to almost five million Americans each year, Planned 
Parenthood is literally on the front line of a war on women being waged 
today here in Washington and in state capitals and in courtrooms across our 
country. We refuse to be the generation that both won and lost the rights 
to birth control and abortion. We stand for the principle that women -- in 
consultation with their families and their physicians -- should make their 
own reproductive and health decisions. Not politicians and not the 
government.The Bush administration, the U.S. Congress, and the nation need 
to see hundreds of thousands of Americans showing their vocal support for 
reproductive freedom," said Gloria Feldt, President of Planned Parenthood 
Foundation of America.

For more information and to sign up, go to www.MarchforChoice.org