TEXAS GOP TARGETS WOMEN WITH ABORTION BAN | |
Senate Bill 8 Became Law on September 1, 2021
By Sarah Mitchell, President, WoW Democrats
| The Rally is dedicated to giving voice to Democrats in Collin County on issues of importance to them. This opinion article from Sarah is one of a series on various topics that we hope to publish in the months ahead. Write us at rally@collindemocrats.org if you would like to submit "a personal view" article. | |
In May, Governor Greg Abbott signed into law one of the nation’s strictest abortion measures, SB8, banning abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, with the law effective September 1, 2021. His Facebook Livestream said the Legislature "worked together on a bipartisan basis to pass a bill that I'm about to sign that ensures that the life of every unborn child who has a heartbeat will be saved from the ravages of abortion.” The bill bans abortions after what they call "a fetal heartbeat" has been detected. It gives no exceptions to cases where the woman was impregnated as a result of rape or incest.
The unique twist for SB8 is that "instead of having the government enforce the law, the bill instead turns the reins over to private citizens — who are newly empowered to sue abortion providers or anyone who helps someone get an abortion after a 'fetal heartbeat' has been detected." Most alarmingly, "the person would not have to be connected to someone who had an abortion or to a provider to sue."
I have been pregnant 6 times and have one living child. I’m not going to tell you that despite this I am pro-choice. I am telling you that BECAUSE of this, I am pro-choice. Even when a pregnancy is very much wanted, there are a million things that can go wrong, and in 1 out of 4 pregnancies – it DOES.
Yet instead of increasing access to healthcare, birth control, and childcare; instead of closing the backlog of rape kits, holding abusers accountable, and removing the gender and cultural bias in the medical field; instead of paying women what they are worth, so they don’t have to give up their careers to raise children; instead of ensuring child support is paid, our legislators insult us. They tell us we don’t know whether we’ll change our minds on removing the ability to have children, we don’t know our own bodies enough to understand that pregnancy whether wanted or not can endanger our physical, emotional, or mental health. They assume we don’t pay attention when they grant rapists shared custody, or when they don’t give jail time because the assaulter has a bright future, or "only made one mistake..."
Read More on CollinDemocrats.org
Bonus: See Sarah Take Abbott to Task on CBS-11 News!
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How you can help:
Texas Equal Access Fund: provides financial & emotional support to people seeking abortion care in the north, east, and Panhandle regions.
Afiya Center: advocacy organization dedicated to transforming the lives of Black Women and Girls through Reproductive Justice.
Fund Texas Choice: serving pregnant people who are seeking abortion-related services and information.
Jane’s Due Process: helps young people in Texas navigate parental consent laws and confidentially access abortion and birth control.
Lilith Fund: supports the right of all Texans to make their own reproductive choices, regardless of income.
| Attend the Dallas Repro March on October 2! | |
We need you now more than ever! |  | |
Are you angry about the Texas legislature outlawing abortion services? Are you sick of the government trying to control a person’s body but refuse to control a deadly pandemic?? If not, you should be!
Senate Bill 8 (SB8) stops abortion access after six weeks when many women don't even know they're pregnant. It also allows random people across the country to sue anyone who helps someone get an abortion in Texas. That means ANY person — such as a partner, parent, nosy neighbor, random stranger, or anti-abortion protester — from ANY state can sue a person they believe helped someone get an abortion.
To say that this is draconian is an understatement. It’s an all-out assault on not just women, but ALL of us. If Republicans can strip away bodily autonomy, what liberty is next? Now is the time to channel your anger and use it to get Democrats elected. We cannot reach voters and support candidates if we don’t have the funds to do it. This is where you can help!
Be part of the solution by becoming a sponsor for our largest fundraiser of the year. The Ann Richards Dinner and Masquerade Ball on October 16th will be a night to remember with live music, dinner, dancing, and exciting performances. All attendees must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask.
| Check out our new promotional video! | |
Visit our Ann Richards Dinner web page for details on the food, fun, and sponsorship opportunities! Sponsors will enjoy special perks not available to other attendees. Sponsor package availability is limited, so don't wait!
For the safety of everyone attending, only individuals fully vaccinated for COVID-19 should attend this in-person event. Face masks will be required for all venue staff and guests.
When: Saturday, October 16, 7-11 p.m.
Where: Dallas/Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center, 7121 Bishop Rd, Plano
Cost: Individual tickets are $150 per person. Sponsorships are also available.
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CELEBRATION OF LIFE: KATE GARRISON | |
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Please join us for the Celebration of Life of Kate Garrison at the Art Centre of Plano.
Confirmed Speakers:
- State Representative Jessica Gonzalez
- Plano Mayor John Muns
- Dylan M. Rafaty
There will likely be additional speakers; please check the Facebook event for updates.
If you are unable to make it in person, please visit our Facebook page for the LIVE streaming coverage of the event: at facebook.com/ntxdc/live.
When: Thursday, September 9, 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Where: The ArtCentre of Plano, 902 E 16th St, Plano
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TURNING COLLIN BLUE IN '22 | |
The REGISTER COLLIN campaign resumes in Plano on September 11 and 12, after our Labor Day break, to canvass for new voters!
Sign up below for dates on Saturday, September 11, and Sunday, September 12. If you're new, we'll train you, and you'll be paired with an experienced canvasser regardless. Come on out and help us flip Collin County #Blue2022! If you'd rather phone bank, you can do that too! Sign up below.
Learn about the REGISTER COLLIN campaign.
Want to know when we'll be registering voters where you are? Check out the schedule on collindemocrats.org!
Help keep #RegisterCollin teams marching! Click the Blue Donate button below and send a donation to support the team's work.
#Blue2022 #RegisterCollin
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Welcome to Gilead: While my focus is usually on Collin County, the outcome of this state legislative session is going to greatly affect local entities. With 666 bills passed, our “leaders” have been busy little bees. This is not to say they care about bees though. They had the opportunity to pass a bill protecting them but declined. I mean, bees only affect our food supply. What could go wrong?
Instead of focusing on critical problems like our electrical grid and Covid, the legislature instead passed a racist voter suppression bill (SB1), a deeply restrictive anti-abortion bill (SB8), a censorious education bill (SB3), and a bill allowing hospital staff to restrict in-person visitation only with a physician’s order which must be renewed every 5 days (HB2211). I guess hospital healthcare workers don’t have enough to do.
Once signed into law, all of the above-mentioned bills are going to lead to disaster. In addition to setting us up for conflict (due to voter suppressive tactics and partisan poll watchers), SB1 is going to be expensive. The anti-abortion bill is going to turn us into the Wild West, a free-for-all in the courts as neighbor turns against neighbor. By the way, informing on fellow community members is something that happens in fascist countries, not in democracies. So don’t be fooled that Republicans care about democracy. They don’t. And if they want to play, many on the left will gladly oblige. It’s going to get ugly...
Read More
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Covid Update: Collin County currently has 113,224 confirmed Covid cases. This is 5,097 more cases than I reported last week and 920 of our Collin residents have died. It doesn’t seem like this is slowing down.
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Commissioners Court: While the commissioners took two weeks off from having meetings, they’re going full steam ahead on their budget priorities that don’t include actually helping people suffering from the pandemic. They could’ve used the federal relief funds to invest monetarily in small businesses, educational opportunities, childcare, those facing evictions, food banks, or, I don’t know, perhaps transforming our public health department into one that can truly (although I’d even take adequately) serve our population. Instead, the commissioners plan on building a parking garage, expanding the county medical examiner’s office and growing the jail. If you don’t think this sounds like a good plan, they need to hear from you...
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McKinney City Council: The council spent much of its time recently dealing with the budget. The bottom line for McKinney residents is that the city is continuing to grow. City revenues are strong but we also have some ongoing challenges, like street maintenance and expansion. The council allocated funds from the American Rescue Plan. These will go to the Apex Center, the McKinney Performing Arts Center, east McKinney infrastructure projects, fiber expansion to city parks & the downtown square, active & future CIP Projects, economic development, and community & housing development (including housing assistance & neighborhood preservation)...
Read More
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PLANO AREA DEMOCRATS SEPTEMBER VIRTUAL MEETING | Join Plano Area Democrats for our September Virtual Happy Hour! | |
This month we're joined by Austin NPR journalist Mose Buchele to discuss his podcast The Disconnect, which delves into the February blackout, the Texas grid, and how this all happened. Don't miss this one!
Prior to the meeting, be sure to listen to The Disconnect podcast, and come with questions!
When: Friday, September 17, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom. Register to get the Zoom link via email.
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WOMEN ORGANIZING WOMEN DEMOCRATS
SEPTEMBER MEETING
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Our September General meeting will feature retired FBI special agent Eric Jackson, who served 21 years in the FBI. As a Special Agent over the Dallas field office, Agent Jackson spent his career rooting out corruption in the Dallas city government. Agent Jackson will speak to how Democrats can take back the narrative of law and order.
When: Wednesday, September 15, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Collin College Spring Creek Campus - Conference Center-Room AA-135, section AB, 2800 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano
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2021 NORTH TEXAS PRIDE "COME AS YOU ARE" FESTIVAL | |
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This is the 11th annual festival, bringing the community together to celebrate pride in diversity.
There will be sponsor/vendor booths, food/beverages, give-a-ways, donations to a partnering non-profit & adult and kid activities, bands, DJ, dancing & a ton of entertainment for all ages. Come join us for a family-oriented day of fun and get to know others like yourself.
Be sure to visit the Collin County Democratic Party Booth for Voter Registration and Information.
When: Saturday, September 25, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Where: Saigling House (ArtCentre of Plano), 902 E. 16th St, Plano
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The CCDP physical office is closed until further notice for safety. Our office staff are, however, working for you from home and available by telephone at 972-578-1483 or contact us on the web at collindemocrats.org.
Check our Online Events!
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Collin County Democratic Party (CCDP) | 972-578-1483 | www.collindemocrats.org © 2021
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