Oklahoma Protest TODAY!
Several University of Oklahoma students this week are taking a stand on Oklahoma’s newest abortion law, enacting the statistical abortion-reporting act. In a response to this legislation, the students planned Reproductive Rights Week and on Friday, students will focus the energy on to the Oklahoma State Capitol on November 6, at 12pm, with a pro-choice rally.
The legislation, H.B 1595, is a new provision on Oklahoma abortion laws that now requires an official record and reporting system of all abortions occurring within the state. This information would be made public and includes specific demographical information on the women. The bill also restricts the types of abortions or reasons for women having abortions. In addition, this website will cost upwards of $281,285 the first year and $256,285 each subsequent year.
Although this legislation has been in the works since the beginning of this year, Oklahoma students were shocked to hear that it went into effect with such little public discussion. More importantly, they were surprised that there was not more mobilization around the issues.
“Everybody kept waiting for a response from the community,” Sandra Criswell, English and Women’s and Gender Studies senior, said. “We were hearing plenty of outrage but there seemed to be no place to focus all of this energy. Hopefully, this protest will do that.”
Students across the state have organized the protest to take place Friday, and ask that any person outraged by this legislation to join in the pro-choice rally. The rally will include speeches by Tamya Cox, ACLU representative, as well as speeches by rally organizers and pro-choice activists in Oklahoma.
“Oklahoma is not a state often associated with activism,” Shagah Zakerion, Public Relations senior said. “We want to show the rest of the country that people care and we are just as outraged as they are.”
To get more information on the protest or to contact organizers of the event, please e-mail wgssaou@gmail.com.
