It's no secret that feminists are on both sides of the fence in the Democratic primary.

Despite the media stereotype of a vast leftwing feminist conspiracy made up of goose-stepping fembots, the actual women's equality movement is very diverse. Being the independent-minded people that we are, feminists tend to resist being forced to toe a party line.

If you are in the Washington D.C. area on March 24, 2007, don't miss this one.

The Department of U.S. Studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. will host a book launch of Jo Freeman's We Will Be Heard: Women's Struggles for Political Power in the United States on Monday, March 24 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The discussion will be held at:

5th floor conference room
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004-3027

The event is open to the public but you must RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Directions are available here. Please allow extra time for security; a picture ID is required. Admission to the discussion and the reception are free but seating is limited.

We received this essay on the 2008 election from Aurora Levins Morales. Aurora is a Latina-Jewish poet, scholar and activist. Aurora and her mom Rosario were both members of the Chicago Women's Liberation Union. In it Aurora discusses the sexism and racism that have characterized this election season.

Over the last few weeks, and increasingly the last few days I've been getting emails from every direction, (particularly the progressive friend who have my address,) telling me why we should all get behind either Clinton or Obama. Since I'm not a registered Democrat, I won't be voting in this primary, but I've been thinking about it a lot.

Feminist scholar Jo Freeman has long been one of our most astute observers of the often surreal world of U.S. politics. In her new book We Will Be Heard: Women's Struggles for Political Power in the United States, she collects some of her best essays about women in politics into one volume.

According to the publisher, the book will be hitting the shelves on March 28, 2008. If you order at the prepublication price , you can receive a substantial discount.

From J. Ellen Foster's address to the 1892 Republican Convention to Nancy Pelosi's 2007 election as the first female Speaker of the House, women have worked to influence politics at every level. Well before most could vote, women campaigned for candidates and lobbied to shape public policy. Men welcomed their work, but not their ideas. Even with equal suffrage women faced many barriers to full political participation.

Join the National Organization for Women Foundation, National Council of Negro Women, and the Institute for Women's Policy Research for the 2008 Summit on Economic Justice for Women, April 11-12 in Atlanta, Georgia. The summit is dedicated to "Bringing Together Research and Advocacy--from Local to Global--to Advance Economic Justice and Empowerment for Women"

Don't miss the reduced early registration fee. Make your plans now to join with grassroots activists, researchers, and academics to address the critical economic issues facing women in the U.S. and abroad.

In September of 2004 I lost a dear friend when Ruth Surgal died suddenly after attending a feminist conference. Ruth had been a leader of the Abortion Counseling Service of Women's Liberation, better known as Jane. You can read more about Jane on this website.

I was asked to speak at Ruth's funeral service, so today I'll share with you what I said on that sad day.

On January 22, the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, NARALPro-Choice America is asking pro-choice bloggers to join them for Blog for Choice Day!

Blog for Choice Day provides us with an opportunity to raise the profile of reproductive rights in the blogosphere and the media, while celebrating Roe's 35th anniversary. Plus, it's a great way to let your readers and the mainstream media know that a woman's right to choose is a core progressive value that must be protected.

This year's topic: tell us, and your readers, why it's important to vote pro-choice. For more info, visit the Blog for Choice page.

 

We recently received a communication from Azer Majedi , leader of the Organization for Women's Liberation, an Iranian feminist organization. Azer Majedi lives in exile in the UK. In her statement, she calls upon the people everywhere to join together and say,"No to a US military attack."

She was especially concerned with the recent meetings between George Bush and Nicholas Sarkozy, which resulted in some bellicose rhetoric directed against Iran. Her organization opposes the current Islamic regime in Iran and points out that along with the other misery that a war brings, it would make the job of the democratic resistance in Iran even more dangerous and difficult.

Her complete statement follows:

REPEAL THE HYDE AMENDMENT!

Reproductive rights for all, not just those who can afford them!

Sign the petition here: www.hyde30years.nnaf.org

For nearly 35 years, women in the United States have had the right to obtain safe, legal abortion care. However, bans on public funding have severely restricted the ability of low-income women, who depend on the government for their health care, to obtain the care they need. Since 1977, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited federal Medicaid funding to be used for abortion care except in cases of rape, incest or life endangerment.

If you could ask just one question of the next President of the United States... what would that be? Here’s your chance!

The American Medical Women's Association(AMWA) is sponsoring a series of conference calls on the issue of women's health with the various presidential candidates.

The next conference call is with John Edwards on November 9 at 3 pm EST.

If you would like to sign up and participate, please visit the Conversations with the Candidates website for full details.

 

Grace Paley, one of our finest writers, passed away last August. To celebrate her life and work, Judith Arcana has helped organize an 85th birthday party on the evening of December 11 at Broadway Books in NE Portland OR. Judith Arcana is the author of Grace Paley's Life Stories; a Literary Biography.

If you miss Grace Paley and would like to organize a birthday event for that evening in your town, please contact your local bookstore and get one going.

The American Medical Women's Association(AMWA) is sponsoring a series of call-in phone conferences with the presidential candidates in preparation for the 2008 election.

The theme of the teleconferences is women's health. According to AMWA,

Guaranteed access to high-quality, patient centered, preventive and curative health care is the most fundamental women’s health issue of our time.

AMWA already held a teleconference on Oct 18 with Hillary Clinton. To sign up for future conferences, please visit the Conversations with the Candidates website.

Here is the text of the press release we received at 5:56 PM:

What: Press Conference
Where: Aurora Planned Parenthood Health Center, 3051 E. New York Street, Aurora, IL When: Tuesday, October 2, at 10 am

Finally! Just minutes ago we received our occupancy permit from city of Aurora Mayor, Tom Weisner and we will be OPEN FOR BUSINESS TOMORROW!

*We encourage anyone who is interested to attend the Aurora city council meeting on their own to monitor the discussion, but we will not be rallying outside city hall.

While it's a travesty that the opening of our health center became such a politicized issue, we never could have won this battle without the incredible support of pro-choice residents in Aurora, Naperville, and other local communities, as well as our supporters throughout the state and the nation. Thank you to every person that stood up for us at City Council, that rallied at City Hall, that gave a donation, that signed a petition, and that supported us in so many ways during this fight.

Thank you for all you've done!

 

On Tuesday evening of September 25, nearly 300 Planned Parenthood supporters gathered at the Aurora City Council meeting to demand the opening of the health center. Supporters created a sea of pink in front of City Hall.

Then on September 28, Illinois Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama came out in support of the clinic saying,

"I fully support Planned Parenthood's desire to open a new facility in Aurora," he said in a statement released this afternoon. "The proposed center will serve the growing population in a part of the state where access to a full range of reproductive health care services is lacking."

Supporters plan another Aurora City Hall rally on Tuesday, October 2 at 4 pm.

Find out more:

• Planned Parenthood Aurora
• Planned Parenthood Aurora Blog
• Planned Parenthood Aurora YouTube page
  

The AFL-CIO has launched a major new campaign to secure healthcare for every American by 2009. According to campaign director Heather Booth,

Maybe we can make this election provide a mandate on health care reform--getting the candidates to commit to progressive reform and then holding them to it after the election by mobilizing a massive force, in this campaign that means 10 million union members and 3 million retirees. And this time, we will win.

Stop by the AFL-CIO blog to learn more and get involved.

Heather Booth is a longtime organizer with roots in the Civil Rights Movement. She was one of the founding members of the Chicago Women's Liberation Union.

Herstory visitors are probably familiar with Jo Freeman's scholarly work in women's history. But did you know that Jo is also an inveterate political button collector? Right now she is looking for "Carole Mosely Braun for President" button. She'll trade you a "Braun for Senate" or a "Chisholm for President "button. Contact Jo at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are ready to deal.