A series of billboards in Georgia are linking abortion with supposed "efforts" by various groups to reduce or limit the size of the black population. The ads first surfaced at the beginning of February, in time for Black History Month and have gradually been reported in the mainstream press. The most recent story appeared on March 1st in the Los Angeles Times.
The billboards are the brainchild of Ryan Bomberger, founder of Georgia-based group "Radiance." Bomberger, who is adopted, claims to be the son of a white woman raped by a black man. He believes data that shows a much higher percentage of black women seeking abortions, as well as the number of Planned Parenthood offices in urban areas, is "evidence" of racial targeting, a claim several minority women's groups denounce as offensive, condescending, and dangerous nonsense. They concede the high number of abortions among black women in Georgia, but point to other socio-economic factors, such as limited access to birth control and family planning information as well as inadequate insurance coverage.
But the anti-choice forces are jumping on the bandwagon. The Georgia Right to Life organization has partnered with Radiance on the eighty or so ads, which will be displayed at least through March. Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr., experienced a religious conversion after two abortions and now sits on the board of Georgia's Right to Life organization. She claims to know absolutely that abortionists are targeting the black community for ethnic cleansing.
As a staunchly pro-choice supporter, I am nevertheless deeply sympathetic to those who are deeply distressed by abortion. In truth, all of us are; as one advocate put it: "Pro-choice doesn't mean pro-abortion." No one I have ever met, including those who've had abortions, has ever been the least bit cavalier about the procedure, which is why I hope that a measure of common ground can someday be found -- say, in efforts to expand information about birth control and family planning.
But I'm also deeply offended by deliberately provocative and highly misleading advertising that attempts to shame and terrorize women who need and deserve support in making decisions about their reproductive health. Moreover, I'm infuriated by yet another attempt to use words to drive people further apart on one issue - abortion - by raising a red flag about another - racism. I'm afraid - truly afraid - we haven't seen the end of these billboards.
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Comments
Thanks for calling my attention to it.
...and congratulations fo editor's pick.
r.
If they weren't doing it to themselves, it would be called genocide.
And it would be correct.
Europeans gave North American Indians 'fire water' and it has about done them in.
The NRA has protected the 2nd amendments so our inner city residents could be armed to the teeth, not wanting to be short on firepower.
It's there right.
Every time I see something like these billboards, I want to vomit.
ps - Alaska Prog - very well put.
R
sad to say some will jump on that bandwagon and ride it really hard.
@nick: maybe a set of billboard addressing the gun issue?
@alaska: exactly
@cartouche: just got one ;-)
In the hispanic community I teach in, the girls are having their babies while the rest of the kids celebrate it. Sometimes it's all the attention these girls get. It's sad and wrong. There is a huge lack of understanding about safety and protection and what the reality is going to be for these girls and their babies........ and fills me with sorrow and anger....
CLICK HERE TO READ
Reps Trent Franks and Bart Stupak Should Get Knocked
Right wing, bible toting, nuts do not care if people die owing to lack of medical care or have to go bankrupt. Why would they care if they forced women to have abortions in other countries and often under terrible conditions.
There would be some horrible, yet poetic justice, if some deranged believer in "choice" murdered a few "lifers". It might reign-in their natural hatred. Yes, I am kidding, but hard to offer these haters anything but the darkest of thoughts.
This sums up my feelings exactly Nikki. Thank you for your smart reporting and ability to sum up a very controversial issue in a way which leaves hope that we can still find some common ground.
Smart writing.
But, back to this post - I read this yesterday and I'm just so unprepared to even react - So I'll just say, echoing other sentiments, thank God for Planned Parenthood and the people who are prepared to react. It's the universal balance, one extreme is held in check by the other extreme. Personally, this whole scenario reminds of Riane Eisler's old book The Chalice and The Blade. Misogyny vs gylany.
@ Sparking: thanks for noticing my ongoing attempts to find even a glimmer of hope...I often feel trapped by certain groups into imitating their bullying tactics. I suppose those who move their agendas through fear-mongering believe it's the only option left to them, but then what? We're on a playground in the middle of a name-calling, insult-throwing half-truth-telling fist-fight; the reasonable people pick up their toys and go home.
I tried to rate this post and it wouldn't register. So I'll just tell you...definitely Rated.