------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Jan. 25, 2001 issue of Workers World newspaper ------------------------- BATTLING BUSH, ASHCROFT & THOMPSON: "WOMEN HAVE TO TAKE TO THE STREETS AGAIN" By Sue Davis Jan. 22 is the 28th anniversary of the Supreme Court's historic Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion. But no one is celebrating. Not with President-select George W. Bush appointing arch- reactionary, racist, anti-choice John Ashcroft to be attorney general and anti-welfare Tommy G. Thompson to be secretary of health and human services. In those jobs both men would function like the proverbial fox guarding the chicken coop. Ashcroft's views on abortion are indicative of his anti- woman politics. He advocates a constitutional amendment banning abortions even when a woman has been raped or is a victim of incest. He opposes a type of late-term abortion that is misnamed "partial birth." In fact, Ashcroft is so opposed to women gaining any kind of control over their bodies that in the Senate he voted against federal funds for types of contraception, including IUDs and birth-control pills, that the religious right likens to abortion. Thompson is no better. His anti-welfare Wisconsin Works program, known as W-2, forced all welfare recipients to work, regardless of their circumstances. Under W-2 thousands of impoverished mothers-- disproportionately women of color--have been forced to turn their children over to the state's foster care service. That totally violates women's reproductive rights. In a people's court, Thompson would be found guilty of kidnapping. In response to these appointments women around the country are showing their determination to fight for their rights by joining the counter-inaugural protests on Jan. 20. "Women have to take to the streets again," said International Action Center activist Marie Jay. "That's what won Roe v. Wade years ago. "We need to take the struggle for women's rights even further this time and win things like universal child care and health care, paid maternity leaves and full employment. "Of course all women won't have reproductive freedom until we also end racism, domestic violence and oppression of lesbians," Jay explained. "But Bush, Ashcroft and Thompson can be sure of one thing--the struggle will continue until we win." - END - (Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
