ACLU to Host Roe v. Wade Anniversary Forum on Jan. 23rd in Tucson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org

TUCSON – The urgent future of reproductive rights will be the topic of discussion on January 23rd in Tucson at a community forum celebrating the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that protects a woman’s right to choose.

“Arizona lawmakers have aggressively gone after women’s health, passing a record number of restrictions making it harder for women to access abortion and other forms of reproductive health care,” said Alessandra Soler, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona, which is co-sponsoring the forum with Planned Parenthood of Arizona. “But this recent election demonstrated that voters – both men and women – have had enough with lawmakers who interfere in their personal and private decisions.”

The forum will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at the University of Arizona Memorial Student Union in the Santa Rita Room, 1303 E. University Blvd. in Tucson. Featured speakers include Planned Parenthood of Arizona President & CEO Bryan Howard, former state senator Paula Aboud and ACLU of Arizona Senior Staff Attorney Kelly Flood, who is part of the legal team challenging various Arizona laws that restrict access abortion and other forms of reproductive health care.

The event will raise awareness about the implications of state and federal laws that take away a woman’s ability to make her own decision about pregnancy and abortion, including recent Arizona laws banning virtually all abortions after 20 weeks, blocking federal funding for women’s health services and denying tax credits to groups that even mention abortion.

“This year, as we celebrate forty years of Roe, we will need to keep up the momentum of the past year and continue to make our voices heard if we are to protect the right of a woman and her family to make their own decisions,” added Soler.

WHAT: Community forum on reproductive rights to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, 2013

WHERE: University of Arizona Memorial Student Union, Santa Rita Room, 1303 E. University Blvd. Tucson

WHO: Planned Parenthood of Arizona President & CEO Bryan Howard, former state senator Paula Aboud and ACLU of Arizona Senior Staff Attorney Kelly Flood are scheduled to speak.