Launch of "Choice Threat Advisory" on Inauguration Day and Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
PRESS RELEASE January 20, 2005 Contact: Beth Ganz, NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado
303-394-1973, ext. 12
Cell: 303-956-0560 PRO-CHOICE ACTIVISTS AND LEGISLATORS LAUNCH PRO-CHOICE ALERT SYSTEM ON INAUGURATION DAY AND AS PART OF
ROE V. WADE ANNIVERSARYSystem Allows Public and Media to Easily Assess Status of Attacks on ChoiceDENVER— Today, as President Bush was sworn in to his second term in the White House, hundreds of pro-choice activists attended a rally at the State Capitol to unveil an alert system designed to quickly and easily inform the public when attacks occur on access to reproductive health care. These attacks can include U.S. Supreme Court nominations, district court judge nominations and legislation aimed at curtailing a woman’s right to reproductive freedom. President Bush has vowed to nominate justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade if given the chance, reversing the 1973 decision that legalized abortion. “Today we are in Yellow Alert,” stated Cathryn Hazouri, Executive Director of the ACLU of Colorado. “Just Bush’s inauguration brings us into an elevated state of danger for reproductive health care. In his first term, Bush aggressively promoted abstinence-only programs, denied billions of dollars to the United Nations Family Planning Fund, and banned safe abortion procedures.” When President Bush attempts to appoint Supreme Court Justices who will overturn Roe, we will activate Colorado’s pro-choice community for a RED ALERT,” continued Hazouri. The announcement of the new alert system coincides with the 32nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade. A coalition of women’s rights organizations gathered their supporters for the unveiling of the new alert system. “Starting today – Bush’s Inauguration Day – we stand together and are prepared to defend our reproductive rights,” said Beth Ganz, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado. “We are on alert and we will be watching. We will be ready, and we will take action.” "Because Supreme Court justices are appointed for life, what happens in the next four years may have repercussions for the next 40," continued Ganz. Participants in the rally waved hundreds of yellow bandanas, signaling their understanding of the new warning system. As long as President Bush remains in office, the warning system will never dip below a Yellow Alert. When new developments arise, such as anti-choice federal legislation, the warning system will change into an Orange Alert – signaling an elevated state of danger to reproductive rights. If the President nominates an anti-choice justice to the Supreme Court, the state will be put on Red Alert , and supporters of choice will do all they can to prevent the confirmation of such a nominee. State Senator Joan Fitz-Gerald and State Representative Andrew Romanoff also addressed the crowd and many other pro-choice legislators attended. “Although we welcome a new pro-choice majority at the Colorado State Legislature”, said Vicki Cowart, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, “Coloradans are poised to respond to this new warning system. If the President intends to further erode women’s rights, we will meet that challenge with a fight.”
| 
