Last month, an organization called Operation Save America, announced plans to “bring the Gospel of Christ to the gates of hell in Birmingham, Alabama” from July 14 to 22. It seems that “the saints in this city have asked [them] to help push what is left of the abortion industry into a deep grave.” The schedule for this eight-day shrill-fest includes such Christian actions as “daily street witnessing and evangelizing at abortion mills and other strategic locations” and an “Old-Testament style solemn assembly with local pastors.” No doubt there will also be repeated invocations of this city’s historic Civil Rights struggle as somehow relevant to the present-day conflict over reproductive rights in the United States. Among the other fascist outfits expected to join forces with OSA in Birmingham is Elijah Mininstries, whose mission is to “to impart a Biblical Worldview to the Church of Jesus Christ that will provide the theological impetus to fulfill the ‘Great Commission.’”

In response to demonstrations scheduled for the “Back to Birmingham” event being staged by OSA, the Greater Birmingham Chapter of the National Organization of Women (NOW) has declared July 14-22 “Alabama Reproductive Freedom Summer.”

Members of Alabama NOW will be training volunteers in “clinic defense” every day, in order to minimize the harassment of patients at local women’s health clinics by OSA demonstrators. Training will be held in conjunction with several other events, including a reproductive rights interfaith forum and educational sessions on emergency contraception.
The complete schedule of events is as follows:

Saturday, July 14 • 10-11:30 a.m.
Kickoff Rally – Kelly Ingram Park, Fifth Avenue North & 16th Street
Confirmed speakers include Emily Lyons, Rep. Patricia Todd, Michelle Colon (MidSouth NOW Regional Director) and Howard Bayless (Equality Alabama). Live music by Wall Street Traitors

Sunday, July 15 • 3-5 p.m.
Reproductive Rights Interfaith Forum – Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmngham, 4300 Hampton Heights Drive.

Monday, July 16 • time TBA
Emergency contraception information gathering and community outreach – location TBA

Tuesday, July 17 • 1-6 p.m.
Feminist Film Festival – Hill University Center.

Thursday, July 19
Civil Rights tour for Alabama Reproductive Freedom Summer attendees –Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park

Friday, July 20 • 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Abortion Speak Out – Fountain at 5 Points South

Saturday, July 21 • 10-11:30 a.m.
Victory rally – Kelly Ingram Park
Confirmed speakers include Olga Vives (National NOW Exec.V P), Allison Neal (ACLU of Alabama) and Rev. Paul Britner (Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Montgomery).

For more information, call 251-9623 or visit www.alabamanow.org.