On November 8th, 2011, Mississippians will vote on Proposition 26, a ballot
measure that, if passed, would alter the state constitution, redefining the word
“person” to include every human being from the moment of fertilization. While
similar measures were defeated in Colorado by wide margins, in 2008 and
again in 2010, many people worry that this measure will pass easily in
Mississippi.
What few - in Mississippi or beyond - anticipated was the strong grassroots
opposition that has emerged against the proposition. This week, National
Advocates for Pregnant Women’s newest staff attorney, Allison Korn, published
a commentary in RHReality Check describing the amazing grassroots rising
there.
Allison is southern, by birth and education. She is a native Memphian, born and
bred in Memphis, Tennessee. She is also a proud alumnae of the University of
Mississippi School of Law. Now, working out of New Orleans, Louisiana as
NAPW’s legal advocate and organizer in the South, she is both a witness to and
a participant in a growing grassroots movement throughout Mississippi.
Allison has been traveling throughout Mississippi to talk about Proposition 26
and how it threatens the personhood of all pregnant women. Her commentary
about Prop 26 was published in the Hattiesburg American and this week,
NAPW released a new video about Prop 26 that we expect will get significant
play across the state.
Grassroots activism is also emerging in Indiana and continuing to build in
Oklahoma. In Indiana, students from Butler College organized a public
demonstration in support of Bei Bei Shuai outside of the Marion County jail
where she has been held without bail on murder and attempted feticide charges
since March. (Ms. Shuai attempted suicide while pregnant –she survived but
her baby did not). Though small, this demonstration garnered a story in the
Indianapolis Star and promises to be the first of many grassroots actions in
support of Ms. Shuai. And, in Oklahoma, students and other state based
activists, with NAPW and other support, are organizing the second regional
reproductive justice conference, Take Root: Red State Perspective on
Reproductive Justice, to be held in Norman, Oklahoma on Friday, February 24,
2012.
No matter what happens on November 8 in Mississippi, NAPW will continue to
recognize, support, and encourage the growing grassroots Reproductive Justice
activism in Southern and Midwestern states across the country. NAPW doesn’t
litigate and leave. We litigate, educate, build, and honor. We hope you will join
us in this effort.