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JAN. 20, 1999
Page A7
Stand Strong for
Freedom of Choice
B> T he R everend C arlton W .
V eazey , P residen t and C E O of
i he R eligious C oalition for R e ­
productive C hoice
Dr Martin Luther King Jr. broke
the silence and laid the foundation
for a community to stand with dig­
nity against terrorism and inequal­
ity. As 1 celebrate Dr. King’s birth­
day, I reflect again on his commit­
ment to non-violence.
Over the years, the African Amen-
can community has honored Dr.
King’s life by further committing
ourselves to standing for freedom.
As an African American Baptist min­
ister and President and CEO of the
Religious Coalition for Reproduc­
tive choice, 1 am dedicated to faith­
ful preserving a women’s freedom
to control her reproductive health. 1
am com m itted to protecting a
women’s right to choose, a right that
is fundamentally lodged in our con­
stitution, affirmed by the Supreme
Court, and grounded in faith.
Twenty-five years ago. Roe v.
Wade made abortion a legal right.
There are those who do not agree
with the decision. Instead of enter­
ing a reasonable and rational dis­
course, they have resorted to hurl­
ing violent epithets of hatred and
intolerance. Instead of regarding
the consciences and values of oth­
ers, they harass and terrorize.
Women and families who choose
abortion as the most responsible
choice are exercising their freedom
to choose, not committing an act of
violence, ironically, it is the anti-
choicers, in the name of God. who
commit the acts of violence, claim­
ing to be compelled by their reli­
gious convictions to scare, wound
and kill, the God 1 serv e compels me
to do otherwise.
Thirty-one years after the assas­
sination of Dr. Martin Luther Jr.,
there are still those who stand in the
way of our rights, trying to restrict
our choice. But we who have been
oppresses must stand steadfast in
our opposition to those who attempt
to take away our choice. We must
remain firm in protecting reproduc­
tive freedom.
Anti-Choice have not won in the
courts, nor in the eyes of American
people. They have not won at the
polls, and we must not let them win
by terrorizing women and reproduc­
tive health workers with hateful
speech and violent actions. We will
no longer tolerate them violating a
woman’s right to choose and we will
not back down at the threat of their
cowardly violence
We are at the dawn of a new era!
As people of faith, we are the real
religious right. We must not remain
silent when doctors, nurses and
clinic staffers are terrorized by bomb
threats, acid attacks or the very real
threat of death. By taking a public
stand against violence and for free­
dom of choice, this culture of terror
will stop.
I call upon those who oppose vio­
lence to stand up and speak out in
ACADEMIC
WORKSHOP
Presented by
Business &
Professional
Women's Ministry
WHERE: Mt. Olivet, F.L.C.
WHEN: January 23, 1999
WJm.- Students, Parents
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Discussion Topics:
SAT, PSAT
Night School
Alternative Schools
Study Skills
Transcripts
College Applications
Project Plus
Progress Reports
Quarter Grade
Reports
Scholarships
Preparation Tests
Mesa
pulpits, classroom, living rooms and
board rooms. In January, we must
speak out for freedom and honor the
life of Dr. King In February, our
voices should proclaim and end to
intolerance. And come March, we
must rededicate ourselves to carry­
ing out the dream of a great man We
must resolve to do these few things
in this new year to honor all those
who lost their lives standing for free­
dom, to all those working to ensure
that all women may exercise their
hard fought, hard won rights of free­
dom over their bodies and their lives.
The Religious Coalition for Re­
productive Choice is breaking the
silence through our Black Church
initiative and exploring new ways to
strengthen the foundation laid by
Dr. King. In this memory, as a child
of God, I loudly proclaim to end the
violence and to remain faithfully,
prayerfully pro-choice.
A Minster of the National Baptist
Convention U S A. Veazey is Presi­
dent and CEO of the Religious Coa­
lition for Reproductive choice,
founded in 1973 as a national orga­
nization of denomination and faith
groups that support reproductive
choice. The Religious Coalition
launched the Black Church Initia­
tive in 1997 to assist African Ameri­
can clergy and laity in addressing
teen pregnane; and other sexuality
issues within the context of African
American culture and religion. For
more information about the Black
church Initiative, contact Leslie
W'atson at 202-628-7700.
MLK "Wellness March" Celebration, was a Community Call To Action for the values outline by the
late Martin Luther King, Jr. The rain didn't dampen the spirits for commitment to participate.