Today is International Women's Day.

We aren’t in Kansas any more. 

Today, if Dorothy were to encounter men with no brains, no hearts and no courage, she wouldn’t be in Oz. She’d be in Congress!


If the recent spate of sinister and fact-averse legislation, put forth by our misguided misogynistic legislators, in their ongoing and escalating war on women – in Georgia and across the nation – has made you frustrated, angry, bewildered, beleaguered, sad, unbelieving, wounded, miserable, dismayed, discouraged, grumpy, repulsed, worried, victimized, annoyed, cross, exasperated, fuming, dispirited, furious, irascible, irate, maddened, offended, outraged, riled, wrathful and feeling like the only fireplug at the dog show; well then - have I got an opportunity for you!

It’s opportunity to raise that big clear voice of yours and speak truth to power. We must demonstrate our strength, as we did with The Komen Foundation and Rush Limbaugh. We must send the message loud and clear. We will not stand down. We will stand up. We will not go back. We will fight back. We will not be powered down. We will power up.


See you Monday at the Capitol.

"Walk in My Shoes, Hear Our Voice"
Circle Around the Georgia State Capitol
Monday, March 12, 2012
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Stand With Us:
o ACLU of Georgia
o Atlanta Women's Medical Center
o Feminist Women's Health Center
o Georgia Equality
o Georgia Rural Urban Summit
o Georgia WAND
o Georgia Women for a Change
o League of Women Voters of Georgia
o MoveOn
o National Association of Social Workers - Georgia Chapter
o Planned Parenthood Southeast
o Sistersong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective
o Spark Reproductive Justice Now!

Stand with us for women's health and lives -- for freedom, equality, justice, and human dignity for all. Join us for a peaceful, but not silent, single file walk around the Gold Dome. Our voices will no longer be silent or ignored.

Organizing Principle:
We are here today to reclaim our voices. We are rejecting legislation that is being considered, or has passed, that does not comply with the following principles for all of Georgia’s women:
- to determine when and whether to have children,
- to have a healthy pregnancy;
- to become a parent and parent with dignity, and
- to have safe and healthy relationships and families.

Logistics:
11 am – Meet Up at Central Presbyterian Church Exterior Courtyard -201 Washington St. SW; Atlanta, GA 30303
MARTA is the best way to arrive. Exit at the Georgia State Station. If you drive there is plenty of parking at the Underground Deck – but it is a bit pricey, carpools encouraged.
11:30 am to 1 pm – Walk the Sidewalk in a Single File Line

Bring a sign sized no more than your body’s width. Suggested Messages (or be creative).

· Trust Georgia’s Women
· I Trust Georgia’s Women
· We are the 51%
· I Trust the 51%
· I am [fill in name] and I can be Trusted.
· Trust Georgia’s [fill in women who need a voice] - such as Trust Georgia’s Black Women, Trust Georgia’s Immigrant Women, Trust Georgia’s Lesbians, Trust Georgia’s Moms, etc.


Many politicians now openly support a denial of basic health care for women or the reversal of essential women's rights. With the 2012 elections looming this year, the culture war seems to deliver a new insult to women's dignity every day.

This has got to stop. We know that efforts to restrict reproduction, sexual, and parenting freedoms are often linked to other forms of discrimination which we oppose.

We need our elected officials to respect and protect women's individual autonomy and right of conscience. Women, men, and all communities need accurate medical information and access to affordable health care.


www.HearOurVoice.org - 404-907-0272 - GAwalkcoalition@gmail.com

Grab a friend or two and come on down Monday.