Agenda - 04-03-1978 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

AGENDA ATTACHMENT I . r FTR U P ICE The Coalition for Choice was formed in August, 1977, Uy individuals and organiza- tions who were c ncerneL by the federal government's action not to pay for abor- tions for women who were eligible for redical assistance. The Coalition wo ked to get ,groups in the Charlotte/liecklenburg area to formally endorse the four principles which were drawn up at the 2nd meeting. These prin- ciples are: 1. Abortion is the right of women. This right was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1973. 2. The "Hyd Amendment", which cuts off federal funding for most abortion , is blatantly discriminatory against poor women and threatens the right of all women to choose a medically safe abortion. 3. Congress should fund abortions for women who are eligible for federally funded medical assistance. 4. The State of North Carolina should be urged to pick up funding for abortions until, the federal, goverrwment again resumes its responsibility. By early December 1.977, twelve groups publicall,y endorsed the Coalition. These grooms are: AAMI -- Charlotte Branch, B'nal B'rith Women •- Ch. 7B1, Charlotte/Meek. urg Rape Crisis Service, Charlotte Women's Political Caucus, Charlotte Women's Center, Mecklenburg Commission on the Status of I-10 yen, Mational ;abortion Rights Action League, North Carolina American Civil Liberties Union, North Carolina Black Women's Political Caucus, ?forth Carolina National Organization for tomen, people's All.iance...and Planned Parenthood of Greater Charlotte. Indiv'.dual$ from other organizations, which have not formally endorsed the Coal tion, have been working with the Coalition. The group is=, edia el y began working at the county, state, and federal level. Support was given to those Congressional rgpresentatives who su-Pported the most liberal language of the "Hyde Amendment" of the 1973 AEIP-Labor Appropriations Bill. At the same time, people began talking with i,ecklenburg County Commis- sioners to urge them to appropriate county funds to aid .low-income county res.i- dents. In October, on a recommendation fron, the 1•13eckl.enburg County Department Of Social Services Board, the county made funds available to pay for first- trimester abortions. Representatives from the Coalition and member organizations spoke at the COuntF Commission meeting and individually with COmmissi.on members prior to that sheet'ng. Each of the supporting groups had drawn up a position statement on the issue of funding abortions. At the end of Ser�tetnber, a statements, was se t out. In addition to the media the estatements went toe state and federal 90vernment officials. This began our contact with the Depart- ment of Human Reso rces and Departnent of Social Services at the state level.. Many People in those departments, including Dr. Sarah Morrow, Secretary of the Department of Human Resources, were sub sportive, and the state began l,aakina for funds.