JANUARY  13, 1993

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information contact Jamienne Studley/Cynthia Carey-Grant 415-546-7211



STATEMENT OF JAMIENNE S. STUDLEY, ESQ.,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,  CARAL,
ON SUPREME COURT DECISION IN BRAY v. ALEXANDRIA WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER


The battleground for freedom of choice has moved from the Supreme Court
steps to the clinic doorway.   Without federal protection women across
the country will be subjected to vicious harassment and clinic violence
as they seek to exercise their legal right to choose.

On the eve of the twentieth anniversary of the decision in Roe v. Wade
this decision comes as a stunning setback for freedom of choice.   The
right to choose that the  Supreme Court narrowly affirmed in the Casey
decision is empty if women are threatened and harassed as they try to
exercise that right.

Here in California we have already seen repeated, extreme violence
against health care providers who offer reproductive and abortion
services, including firebombing of clinics and picketing of doctors and
their children at their offices, homes and schools.  Fortunately we
have a brand-new state law,  AB 1097, championed by Assemblywoman
Barbara Lee (D-Oakland).   Increasingly localities are considering and
passing ordinances designed to protect women and clinics from this kind
of harassment.  But these protections are only as effective as the
state and local law enforcement agencies and officials that are charged
with implementing them.

Anti-choice forces will take this decision as a green light to step up
terrorist tactics against women and health care facilities.   The
Court's retreat from the federal government's traditional role of
protecting civil rights  will serve as a shot in the arm  to
anti-choice zealots in their renewed mobilization to restrict
reproductive and women's rights.

Just as some people wondered whether it was time to  declare victory
for freedom of choice, we have received a clear message that our work
is not done and we cannot be complacent, nationally or  in
California.   We need federal protections for both the basic right to
choose -- the Freedom of Choice Act  -- and to assure access for women
to obtain health care -- federal clinic access protections.
.