In Louisiana Capitol, protesters decry abortion ban

Fed up with online petitions and polite lobbying, pro-choice activists took over the Louisiana State Capitol rotunda in Baton Rouge May 15. Their protest followed state House and Senate committee votes in favor of an abortion ban.

Members of the New Orleans Abortion Fund, Women With a Vision, New Orleans Peoples’ Assembly and the New Orleans Workers Group chanted, “Not the church, not the state!  Rich men won’t decide our fate!” They also demanded the passage of a hike in the hourly minimum wage, fully funded child care centers, an investigation of Black maternal deaths in Louisiana and an end to mass incarceration.  

Ten people were arrested and charged with criminal destruction of property for pouring “blood” on the floor. The groups vowed to send out this message: “The time is now to stop business as usual. This is just the beginning.”

Once news of the action hit the news media and social media, thousands of messages of support poured in. It should be noted that most Louisiana legislators are puppets of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the reactionary billionaire Koch brothers.

Gavrielle Gemma

Share
Published by
Gavrielle Gemma

Recent Posts

Zionist conference protested in Dallas

Dallas Palestinians and other Arab peoples,  Muslims, Palestine supporters and progressive activists of all stripes…

November 21, 2024

El colonialismo es un cáncer que debe ser erradicado en el siglo XXI (parte I)

Ponencia en el Simposio Internacional “Descolonización y cooperación en el Sur global,” Universidad de Shanghai,…

November 21, 2024

Colonialism, a cancer to be eradicated in the 21st century (Part I)

The author is a former Venezuelan soldier and diplomat. This is Part I of his…

November 21, 2024

Remembering the historic 1974 Boston march against racism

The following article — about a massive march to counter racist attacks by a fascist…

November 21, 2024

PDF of November 21 print issue

Download the PDF Resistance grows as West Asia war widens Resistance grows as West Asia…

November 21, 2024

Kenneth Foster: A victim of racist, ironic injustice

New Boston, Texas Kenneth Foster was unjustly sentenced to life in prison without the possibility…

November 20, 2024