150 ATTEND NCJW BERGEN COUNTY SECTION REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM AT-RISK FORUM April 15, 2019You could have heard a pin drop as the audience listened to Rachel Wainer Apter, Esq., Director of N.J. Division of Civil Rights and a former Senior Staff Attorney in ACLU ‘s National Legal Department, and Phoebe Pollinger, NCJW Essex County Section Board Member, accomplished advocate and authority on Reproductive Justice, discuss the threats to reproductive freedom. Ms. Pollinger detailed the rise of Crisis Pregnancy Centers in every state in the United States and in many NJ counties, including Bergen County, their work masquerading as women’s health clinics dissuading women from abortion care, promoting abstinence only as contraception, and providing sex education in our schools. Ms. Apter provided a comprehensive overview of the threats to Reproductive Freedom including the following: regulatory changes at the National level that eliminate access to abortion; the US Supreme Court decisions that are eroding Roe v Wade, and the magnitude of anti-abortion laws that have been passed at the state level. Both Ms. Apter and Ms. Pollinger noted that NJ laws and protections are more robust than Roe v Wade and codifying Roe v Wade in New Jersey would reduce protections. Attendees were inspired to take action. Many purchased and wore hanger pendants symbolizing the desperate acts women will take when they cannot access safe abortion care. Everyone sent postcards to their federal lawmakers asking them to co-sponsor the EACH Woman Act. Attendees were encouraged to ask their schools/schools districts about their sex education curriculum. Several indicated interest in joining a discussion group on Reproductive Rights. The feeling of frustration by many is captured in a remark by one attendee. “This is 2019. How can we still be at risk of losing our rights over our own bodies?” Click photos to enlarge.  L-R: Elaine Bieger& Bari-Lynne Schwartz, NCJW BCS VPs of Advocacy & Education; Phoebe Pollinger & Rachel Wainer Apter, speakers; Elizabeth Halverstam & Ruth Seitelman, NCJW BCS Co-Presidents  More than 15 NCJW BCS volunteers welcomed attendees to the advocacy forum and were ready to turn passion into action!
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This is the NCJWBCS Archives (January 2013 - May 2021). The current site can be found here.
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The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.
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