The following is a news item I found on the Feminist Majority website. Interestingly, I did not read about this in the newspaper or see it on any major news sites online.
Shots Fired at Planned Parenthood Clinic At least four gunshots were fired at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Lufkin, Texas late Tuesday or early Wednesday morning. No one was hurt in the incident. Bullet holes were visible in several windows and the front door of the clinic, according to the Lufkin Daily News, and the clinic suffered some damage in the attack.August 03, 2004In recent months, the clinic has been the target of anti-abortion protests conducted by the Brazos Valley Coalition for Life, which held a meeting earlier this summer to discuss efforts to close down a nearby Planned Parenthood clinic in Bryan, Texas, according to the Lufkin Daily News. The Lufkin clinic does not perform surgical abortions, but it does refer patients seeking abortions to other clinics.
Those of you who have LiveJournals have probably seen the post that started the 'outing' of sexual violence survivors.
With the slogan "No pity. No shame. No silence." Hanne Blank triggered a snowball of people, particularly women, telling their own stories and speaking out in support and solidarity.
If you needed evidence of the prevalence of sexual violence, of the wound created by our rape culture, you need look no further than the stories told in response to that post. It happens to far, far too many people. If we let surviving and talking about rape and abuse be seen as embarrassing or shameful, we contribute to these problems.
So, if you're a survivor and want to talk about it, or if you, like me, just want to stand up in anger and community, read through some of these posts, and maybe get in on the button fund that some LJ feminists have set up.
April 26, 2004I know several of you went to the March this weekend. So...
Tell us your stories! Post links to your pictures!
If you weren't able to make it to the March, did your local news cover it? Did you attend a local rally?
This was an historic event - numbers between 650,000 and 1.15 million people. And I know it felt like more people that I'd ever seen. Whatever you did to contribute (even cheering others on), give yourself a pat on the back.
We made history this weekend!
April 15, 2004Who's coming to the March next weekend?
I'll be there! If you have an interest in meeting up, let me know. Maybe we can organize some sort of WHB and friends get together in conjunction with one of the March events on Saturday night?
If you want to join up with a group of folks, or are just looking for something to do, there is a gang of LiveJournal and WHB people meeting up at the No More Freaks show at 9:30 Club on Saturday evening.
I'm also forming a very small, loose coalition of people who aren't with other groups (mostly DC/VA/MD locals) to march together on Sunday - we'll probably join up with Planned Parenthood's coalition. If you or your small group want to hook up with us, let me know (email april @ redpolka . org) - or just look for us around 10 AM in front of the Smithsonian Info Center (the red building with all the spires). I'll make some sort of sign.