Here's this week's reproductive rights news brought to you by the women of Our Word (and at least one of the guys!). If you see something you find relevant please email it to me, bayprairie at gmail dot com

We have news from South Dakota.

South Dakotans Launch Major Grassroots Effort to Repeal Over-reaching State Abortion Ban

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 24, 2006

SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Today the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families, a new coalition of community leaders from across the state, announced the launch of a major grassroots mobilization to refer the state abortion ban to the November ballot. The referral will allow South Dakotans to vote to overturn the nation's most extreme abortion law which was signed by Governor Mike Rounds on March 6. With Governor Round's signature, this law clearly endangers the health of women in South Dakota and violates the right of women and families to make private, personal health care decisions.

::::more below the fold::::

"An overwhelming majority of South Dakotans believe that the Governor and the legislature went too far. This legislation is extreme and does not reflect the values of South Dakotans who want families to be able to make personal decisions about health care without government interference, said Jan Nicolay, spokesperson for the campaign.

Starting today, volunteers with the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families will hit the streets to gather petition signatures. To qualify for the November ballot, the Campaign must gather the signatures of 16,728 registered voters by June 19.

"Our state government's priorities are wrong. This legislation will jeopardize women whose health is put at risk by continuing a pregnancy and force women who are victims of rape and incest to have no options. As a state, our top priority should be to reduce unintended pregnancies by promoting education and ensuring access to safe birth control. This referral will give every South Dakotan the chance to protect their families and vote their values," said Nicolay.

"Politicians went too far and the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families is putting this issue back where it belongs - in the hands of the people of South Dakota," said Nicolay.

The South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families is co-chaired by fifteen leaders across the state. They include:

1. Republican State Senator Stan Adelstein, Rapid City
2. Dr. Maria Bell, Sioux Falls
3. Sherry Bea Smith, RN, Nemo
4. Pastor Russ Tarver, Methodist Minister, Sioux Falls
5. Cecilia Fire Thunder, President Oglala Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge
6. Dr. Tom Dean, Wessington Springs
7. Kathy Dean, CNM, Wessington Springs
8. Former Republican State Rep. Jan Nicolay, Chester
9. Democratic State Rep. Elaine Roberts
10. Roger Tellinghuisen, Former SD Attorney General, Spearfish
11. Terah Yaroch, USD Student, Vermillion
12. Dr. Marvin Buehner, OB-GYN, Rapid City
13. Morandi Hurst, Student, Rapid City
14. Dr. Nancy Phipps, Rapid City
15. Brenda Hill, Ex. Dir. Sacred Circle Women's Shelter, Rapid City

If you are interested in signing or circulating a petition, please call 605-221-5642 or email info@sdhealthyfamilies.org

Whether or not these citizens of South Dakota are part of a majority within their state remains to be determined, and it looks like that will be done at the ballot box. The fact that they are in the right on this issue is not in doubt. They are, and they deserve the support of all of us who believes in women's freedoms.

Planned Parenthood Applauds Grassroots Effort to Repeal South Dakota Abortion Ban

Kate Looby, South Dakota state director of PPMNS, issued the following statement on today's referral:

"We are pleased to see such a broad coalition of mainstream South Dakotans standing up to fight this ban. This law was pushed by politicians who want to impose their own religious views on others. This is a personal issue between a woman, her family, and her doctor '