Democrats and Republicans joined together to attack our right to abortion when the House of Representatives passed a bill on April 26, 2001 defining fetuses as people. The 198 Republicans were joined by 53 Democrats and 1 independent in this concerted effort to make abortion illegal, thus nullifying Roe v. Wade. We already have no abortion clinics in 85% of US counties, thanks to Democratic President Clinton's goal of making abortion rare.

This bill that has now been sent to the Senate would make it a crime under federal law to harm a fetus when assaulting a pregnant woman. Assault is already against the law, and the pregnant woman could press charges that she had been harmed by the assault. The fetus is part of the woman's body and is not an independent human being until it is born alive kicking and screaming. This is basic science which, like all other science, is held in contempt by all of those who oppose abortion, including "President" Bush.

The Democrats voting for what is essentially repealing our right to abortion are Representatives Barcia, Berry, Bishop, Bonior, Borski, Clement, Clyburn, Costello, Cramer, Crowley, Dingell, Doyle, Gordon, Hall of Ohio, Hall of Texas, Hill, Holden, John, Kanjorski, Kaptar, Kildee, Kind of Wisconsin, Kucinich, LaFalce, Langevin, Lipinski, Lucas of Kentucky, Mascara, Matheson, McIntyre, McNulty, Mollohan, Murtha, Neal, Oberstar, Obey, Ortiz, Peterson of Minnesota, Phelps, Pomeroy, Rahall, Rangel, Roemer, Ross, Shows, Skelton, Spratt, Stenholm, Stupak, Tanner, Taylor of MS, Trafficant and Turner.

Our right to abortion is a litmus test issue and must be defended with massive protest marches across this country, as well as a deluge of phone calls and letters to all House and Senate representatives. There must be no retreat from Roe v. Wade.

It is also urgent that people register to vote as members of parties which are completely committed to defending our right to free (fully government funded) abortion on demand available in all counties, regardless of age, marital status or ability to pay. Such a party is the socialist Peace and Freedom Party which was on the California ballot from 1968 to 1998 and needs just a few more registrations to restore its ballot status for the 2002 elections, which promise to be very lively due to the policies of one of the worst governors in California's history, Democrat Gray Davis. His fealty to the corporations and his worship of prisons and the death penalty practically guarantee his defeat in 2002 in these increasingly hard economic times. We need more options on the ballot, and the best option is Peace & Freedom Party.

For a better future, for a women's right to abortion, for labor, peace, civil rights and the environment, all issues on which we never compromise, join Peace & Freedom Party today, Just check "Other" on your voter registration card and write in Peace and Freedom Party. For more information, see http://www.peaceandfreedom.org

Well, the bill doesn't nullify Roe v. Wade because it deals only with late-term abortions. Roe allows states to outlaw 3rd trimester abortions. Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the latest major S.Ct. case on abortion, also leaves room for states to outlaw late-term abortions, though it gets rid of the trimester rubric.

It is barricades time in this country as far as women's right to abortion is concerned, as well as all other issues of concern to the workingclass. Anyone who thinks that these fetus-as-human-being bills are not an attack on our right to abortion is living in a fantasy world.

In the real world, there is the historical record, which clearly shows that George Bush II is attacking our right to abortion in every manner possible. He is also being aided by many Democrats, and the Democrats cooperated with the anti-abortionists in the Clinton administration as well. Under the good Democrat Clinton, federal health insurance programs were no longer allowed to cover abortions and laws were passed restricting the right to abortion for federal employees. Clinton maintained all of the previous restrictions on federal funding for abortion and cut aid to international family planning services. Clinton's anti-abortion actions were accompanied by other anti-women actions, such as the repeal of welfare, an action that he insisted he proudly supported.

There is no future for the workingclass, and thus for humanity, with capitalism or the twin parties of capitalism, the Democrats and Republicans. Their sole concern is maximization of profits, not addressing human need. The only hope is a socialist party, such as Peace and Freedom Party, to lead the workingclass. The workingclass needs leadership in a time of crisis, and we are not only in a period of crisis, but it is going to get much worse, with an economic depression greater than the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Peace and Freedom Party supports our right to abortion, with fully government funded, free-to-the-public clinics in every county, and abortion available on demand regardless of length of pregnancy, ability to pay, age or marital status. Peace & Freedom Party is also for labor, peace, the environment, gay rights, and all other civil rights.

California is a bellwether state and we are in an excellent position to provide leadership since we have Peace & Freedom Party, a socialist party on the California ballot from 1968 to 1998. We need just a few more registrations to restore ballot status for the 2002 election. You can participate in restoring this major achievement of a generation by not only registering Peace & Freedom Party today but also actively participating in the voter registration program. If you would like to participate, call 323/759-9737 or send an E-mail to the webweaver at http://www.peaceandfreedom.org, whose E-mail address is alameda@peaceandfreedom.org. You could also participate by simply going to your county Registrar of Voters for voter registration forms, download whatever leaflets you want from the above website and go to any workingclass neighborhood's commercial area, colleges or any other place where a significant number of workingclass people gather and do the voter registration. If you have money but no time, you can send financial contributions payable to Peace & Freedom Party at PO Box 741270, Los Angeles, CA 90004. To register yourself in Peace & Freedom Party, just check "Other" on the voter registration form, write in Peace and Freedom Party and mail the form today.

Since Southern California has 2/3 of California's population, our leadership role can only be achieved by maximum participation of the progressive community of Southern California in this voter registration drive. You will find it very educational and socially rewarding, and you will be making history. We have the numbers and the political understanding to provide the leadership in California. We now need to see those numbers and ideas translated into action.