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Reproductive Justice for the 99%!
RCRC Calls on Occupy Wall Street to Recognize Reproductive Health as Basic to Economic Justice

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice stands with Americans who are making their outrage known at the economic injustices that are ripping apart our society and worsening the hardships faced by people from all walks of life. While the focus of the Occupy Wall Street movement is on globalization, corporate greed, and governmental failures, this is a critical moment to understand the harmful impact of growing poverty and inequality on one of the most personal and private aspects of life - the decision and ability to have children.  

Economic justice and reproductive justice are intertwined. When economic stability is threatened, so is the ability of women to access reproductive health services and to plan their pregnancies and the ability of women and men to care for their families. The economic crisis that is affectings jobs, housing, education and health care is undermining private decision-making about having children and, in a broad and long-term sense, family well-being.

The most vulnerable and powerless - those who are poor and young and people of color - are most at risk because of this growing economic inequality. Poor women have the highest level of reproductive health problems, the least amount of knowledge of how to deal with their needs, and the worst access to appropriate reproductive health care services. It is unconscionable to propose cutbacks to essential reproductive health care services to balance the budget and reducing debt. These cutbacks only perpetuate the cycle of intergenerational poverty.  

We at the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice welcome those who are shining light on the inequalities that weaken our democracy. They can help to connect traditional justice concerns about poverty, inequality, oppression, and lack of opportunity to the need for a political climate that positively supports healthy and wanted pregnancies as central to strong families and strong communities.

We call on Occupy Wall Street and its allies to broaden their movement to recognize that access to reproductive health care is basic to economic fairness and social justice.

October 18, 2011