Hey friends, Let’s talk about the total mindfuck that was January. In the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol, it looked like the world was FINALLY paying attention to the danger that anti-choice extremists pose to democracy, not just abortion clinics. After AAF released the information we collected on the “pro-life” leaders who took part in the DC riot, articles were written by Mother Jones, The Independent, and The Washington Post, among many others. Vice wrote three articles, using our information for two of them, and Prism Reports name checked us. At long last the press was going to do their job, and report on the dangerous intersections of the anti-abortion, anti-government and white supremacy movements! Except no. They fucking didn't. On January 22, the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, someone fired a shotgun through the door of a Planned Parenthood in Knoxville TN. I watched MSNBC (bastion of “liberal” news) from 6pm to 11pm… and nothing about this. Not a damn word. Then the March for Life decided to make their January 29 event mostly virtual, claiming concerns about Covid (11 months into the pandemic), but they were likely feeling the pressure as past speakers like Abby Johnson and Frank Pavone were outed for the sad little insurrectionists they are. Perhaps ties between domestic terrorism and the largest annual anti-choice event would attract press attention? |
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It did, but just the usual pandering bullshit. NPR ran a softball interview with the head of March for Life, Jeanne Mancini. The Washington Post had two reporters dedicated to covering the event. Neither had any sort of counter-point from an actual abortion provider. Of course, AAF didn’t let the March for Life annual lie-a-thon go unchecked. We launched a virtual countermarch that many of you joined and I wrote an op-ed about the ties between March for Life and the Capitol rioters. We flooded their hashtags with facts about the batshit crazy beliefs of their speakers and leaders. And while the fourth estate remained asleep at the wheel, clinics across the country were harassed. Our friend Calla Hales, Executive Director of A Woman’s Preferred Health Center in Charlotte, posted this devastating Tweet thread after a bomb threat at her clinic. |
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It’s worth reading the whole thing… but she sums up the situation pretty succinctly: “Abortion is healthcare. Being an abortion provider shouldn’t put a target on my back to be harassed, threatened, assaulted, raped, murdered, or blown up.” Yet mainstream media continues to remain largely silent on the issue, only reporting when abortion related issues become a firestorm, and it’s too late to do anything proactively. This is why Abortion Access Front is fighting EVERY DAMN DAY to bring attention to the clear and present danger of the anti-abortion movement. It’s why we lift the voices of abortion providers and activists. We are doing our damnedest to change the narrative around abortion and fight stigma. We need your help. Please make a donation to support our work. |
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Thanks for reading my rant. We are going bigger and better in 2021 by becoming the media that we need right now! xx  Lizz Winstead |
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