15 Aug 2011 - 11:00 AM
Across the Nation
Beyond Billboards - A Discussion of Xenophobic Attacks on the Reproductive Rights of API Women 1. How are billboard sponsors trying to create a wedge in the reproductive justice community? 2. How is xenophobia being used to isolate and attack API women's reproductive rights? Billboards with racially inflammatory language have appeared in Oakland, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. The billboards are part of a strategy connected with introducing race and sex selection abortion bans and focus on the myth that abortions occur because of the race of the fetus.  Once legislation is introduced, the focus shifts to sex selection, and xenophobic language is used to alienate Asian American communities. In the last four months of 2010, seven states offered bills banning abortions based on pregnant women's knowledge of the sex or race of the fetus. This year, Arizona passed a race and sex selection abortion ban. On the federal level, Senator Franks (R-Arizona)  has introduced a race and sex selection abortion ban bill twice.  Proposed laws are cloaked in language that expresses a commitment to racial and gender equality, but the impact of the laws undermine those goals. Join NAPAWF staff and our chapter leaders from Los Angeles for a discussion on the impact of race and sex selection abortion bans and other attacks on the reproductive rights of API women. When: Monday, August 15th Time: 11amPST/ 1pm CST/ 2pm EST RSVP: LAchapter@napawf.org