‘Women fight back!’

Andrea Lavigne, Kris Hamel, Debbie Johnson, Susan Farquhar and Osaine Reamer. WW photo: David Sole

“Women fight back! Defend reproductive rights,” was the theme of an April 22 Workers World Party forum in Detroit.

Palestinian activist and socialist Andrea Lavigne gave a presentation on the origins of women’s oppression during the transition from tens of thousands of years of communal and egalitarian societies, which were based on matrilineal lines, to the ownership of private property and the development of a patriarchal ruling class.

Osaine Reamer, a Cuban revolutionary and member of the Fed eration of Cuban Women, reported on women’s reproductive rights in Cuba and how abortion is viewed as a social and health issue, not a political or religious one. She told how young girls and boys in Cuba are educated from an early age about issues relating to sexuality and reproduction.

In a talk about the struggle for reproductive rights in the U.S., Kris Hamel reviewed the history of the struggle for the right to choose abortion. She updated the audience on the current attacks, including the almost total ban on abortion taking effect July 1 in South Dakota. Hamel concluded that the struggle of women for reproductive rights is an integral part of the class struggle against all forms of oppression and injustice under capitalism.

The meeting was chaired by WWP leader Debbie Johnson.

Susan Farquhar motivated the audience to get involved in the struggle. She announced the first meeting of the Detroit Action Committee to Defend Repro duc tive Rights, which will take place at 2 p.m. on May 6, at 5920 Second Ave.

For more nformation on this meet ing, please call (313) 378-2369 r email: [email protected] .