Grafic by Dan

Guest Post — April 26, 2013

Note from Dan: Some of you will remember the video below, from March 2012, when police in Richmond mistreated women who marched on Capitol Square to protest Virginia Republicans’ “War on Women.” Well, it’s happening again tomorrow, and below, Sally Foster Mullikin tells us a little about it. She’s a Franklin County native who now lives in Richmond, where she’s active in a number of causes.

By Sally Foster Mullikin

Roanoke’s demographics have been forced into the spotlight of Virginia politics. Last year, starting in February, women throughout the State of Virginia and beyond descended on our State Capitol in response to Del. Chris Head’s (R-Roanpoke) co-sponsorship of the Transvaginal Ultrasound bill (along with Lynchburg’s Kathy Byron who drafted and sponsored it).

The women of Virginia were furious over this as well as a personhood bill and many other attempts by the General Assembly to force government into our uteruses. February began with a protest called “Speak Loudly with Silence” where nearly 1500 or more women, men, and children lined the streets of the Capitol from the administration buildings to the house chambers.

My fondest memory was Senator Donald McEachin with tears in his eyes walking the gauntlet of silent protestors saying, “thank you for standing up for your civil rights, God bless you.” After that initial rally, women’s rights supporters picketed the Governors Mansion and ultimately were arrested sitting on the steps of the State Capitol. (The essay continues below the video)
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Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday and Harry Morgan as Detective Bill Gannon in Dragnet, from the late 1960s | NBC Television | Wikimedia Commons

It was Saturday morning, and I had just finished reading the news.

The most intriguing story was about the Virginia Board of Health, and the recent regulation it approved allowing state inspectors to procure lists of clients from abortion clinics, and to remove client files from those clinics, too.

Then I heard a stiff knock on the front door.

I opened it and found two somber men in drab suits on the front porch. One was holding a manila folder.

“Mr. Casey?” the bigger one asked.

“That’s me,” I said.

“I’m Sergeant Joe Friday.” He motioned to the shorter guy. “This is Detective Bill Gannon.”

Friday squinted, and flashed a badge.

“We’re inspectors from the Virginia Board of Health. It’s about your daughter, sir.”

I inhaled sharply. “Has she been in an accident?”

“She’s fine,” Gannon said. “No accident.”

“Thank goodness,” I replied.

Friday frowned. “The problem is, she’s been to Planned Parenthood, sir.”

READ THE REST OF THIS COLUMN HERE.

Ceridwen | Wikimedia Commons

I swear this isn’t a joke. Instead, it’s an abominable sign of how weirdly polarized America has become. And on one side are the freakishly moralistic voyeurs.

They actually are arguing in favor of a bill in the Arizona legislature that would require women who are on the pill to explain to their bosses why they’re taking it. If it’s for birth control, health insurance coverage would be a no-no.

If it’s for polycystic ovarian syndrome, or another medical condition unrelated to avoiding pregnancy, their health insurance would pay for it, provided they could prove that via a doctor’s note. The legislation is HB 2625.

It has passed the Arizona House, and Wednesday the Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed this legislation by a vote of 6-2. Read more »