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Planned Parenthood Expresses Gratitude To OGLALA SIOUX - Has No Plans To Move Clinic TO Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Planned Parenthood Press Release
March 23, 2006

Sioux Falls, SD --- Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota President and CEO Sarah Stoesz expressed gratitude today to Cecilia Fire Thunder, President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, for offering to establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on her land, but said that there are no immediate plans for opening another clinic on the South Dakota Oglala Sioux Pine Ridge Indian reservation.

In a statement to the press earlier this week, Cecilia Fire Thunder, President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe was quoted as saying she would "personally establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on my own land...” in protest of Governor Round’s signing of a sweeping abortion ban in the state of South Dakota. Many residents of South Dakota have expressed outrage at lawmakers' attempts to criminalize abortion.

"While we sincerely appreciate President Fire Thunder's genuine support for Planned Parenthood and for women everywhere in South Dakota, we have no intentions of closing our existing clinic in Sioux Falls, nor do we plan to open another clinic at this time. Our doors at the Sioux Falls clinic will stay open, and we will use every resource necessary to ensure continued access to birth control and other essential healthcare services including abortion care. We will fight the abortion ban at every level. All the women of South Dakota can rest-assured that our doors will say open in both Rapid City and Sioux Falls," Stoesz said.

EDIT: It would be nice if online feminists/activists maintained an interest in or awareness of the Pine Ridge Reservation even if Planned Parenthood doesn't use it as a magic ticket around anti-choice legislation in South Dakota. This is one of the poorest areas of the United States and the people who live there could still use help and attention. Link to the American Indian Relief Council's comments on Pine Ridge Reservation.

EDIT 2: Here are specific organizations on that reservation that need assistance even if the reservation doesn't have a PP clinic:
The Porcupine Clinic needs supplies.
Cangleska, Inc. and Oglala Sioux Tribe Victims Assistance in Indian Country need money and other donations, too.

Tags: bad-leaders, choice, race

Someone on my friends list recommended Michelle Tea's essay in Women Who Eat. I apparently don't remember who mentioned it because I'm an asshole, but I want to thank hir for the recommendation.

Poll #639941
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: Friends, participants: 20

Choose.

Dear God,

Please promise me that Michael Moore will come up with a better title for his next film than Fahrenheit 9/11 1/2. For fuck's sake.

Amen.

Tags: bad-leaders, media, moore-michael