Miscellaneous - An Open Letter About Events in Texas lyrics

The nation stands at the edge of a historic reversal. Hard won gains of the women's rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s are about to be turned back with devastating results for women across the country. Abortion, already a barely accessible right for most women, is now being made extinct as conservative politicians attempt to press their advantage in certain states in opportunistic fashion. But the problem we face is deeper. In Texas, the legislature has used every legal (and some illegal) trick in the book to make sure that the pro-choice majority is not heard. The current legislation under consideration represents some of the most draconian limits on abortion rights ever. And instead of allowing normal democratic procedures to resolve the issue, the legislature has relied on a rigged process to force the bill through. A few examples are worth mention: every procedural objection that was made to Wendy Davis's historic filibuster; the refusal to hold state-wide hearings to allow affected communities to testify about the consequences of the legislation; the intentional misreporting of how many people testified in opposition to the legislation; the years of gerrymandering which make it nearly impossible for the legislature to reflect the real wishes of the population; the organizing of “special sessions” to push through legislation. The current legislation is too important to allow these deficits in the democratic process to go unchallenged. The bills in Texas would close down the overwhelming majority of clinics which provide abortions and thereby eliminate all of the ancillary services those clinics also provide – STD testing, family planning, health care. That some of these clinics are also the only places where low-income, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals are able to get health services means that this legislation will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable members of society. We believe that the legislative process is stacked against those of us who believe that abortion rights are a necessary part of a woman's ability to control her own body and make decisions about her own health. As a result, it now becomes necessary to take action outside of the legislative process. We firmly believe that if we were to stand up and be counted, the pro-choice forces in this country will outnumber the forces of reaction. It is in this vein that we call on all people who believe in a woman's right to choose to stand up and be counted. We propose that marches and rallies be organized in every city in Texas on July 15th in order to show just how deep the pro-choice sentiment actually runs. In Austin, we will be rallying at 8 pm at the Texas Capitol. But as these attacks against choice are not limited to Texas, we invite all those who stand for choice to join us in a national day of solidarity on July 15th. We believe it is possible to win back our rights, but only if we take a stand in the way that people have been standing for their rights in Brazil, Egypt, and Greece: by understanding that popular protest has the ability to change what a narrow minority of people impose under the fiction of legality. Signed, Linda Martín Alcoff, Department of Philosophy, Hunter College/CUNY Dr. Anjali Arondekar, Associate Professor, Department of Feminist Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz Wendy Ashmore, Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside Michelle Belden, Bates College Archivist C. Marshall Bennett, LMSW, President, ACC/AFT Local #6249 Tithi Bhattachrya, Associate Professor of History, Purdue University Tiffani Bishop, GetEqual TX Central Texas Lead Eileen Boris, Hull Professor and Chair, Department of Feminist Studies, University of California Santa Barbara Brian A. Bremen, Associate Professor of English, University of Texas at Austin Professor Timothy Brennan, Department of Cultural Studies& Comparative Literature, and English, University of Minnesota Susan Briante, MFA, PhD, Associate Professor, Creative Writing Program, University of Arizona Rachel Brickner, Associate Professor of Politics, Acadia University Karen Brodkin, Professor Emerita, Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles Carole H. Browner, Distinguished Research Professor, Departments of Anthropology, Gender Studies & Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior University of California, Los Angeles Heather Busby, Executive Director, NARAL Pro-Choice Texas Judith Butler, Maxine Elliot Professor of Rhetoric, University of California, Berkeley Allison Carruth, Assistant Professor, UCLA Mia Carter, Associate Professor of English, University of Texas, Austin Margaret Cerullo, Professor, Sociology and Feminist Studies, Hampshire College Indrani Chatterjee, Associate Professor of History, University of Texas, Austin Chris Chiappari, Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology, St. Olaf College Dana Cloud, Associate Professor of Communication, University of Texas, Austin Huma Dar, Asian American & Asian Diaspora Studies Program, UC Berkeley Bug Davidson, Director of h*moscope Film Festival Janet M. Davis, Associate Professor of American Studies, History, and Women's and Gender Studies, University of Texas at Austin Anthony DeStefanis, Assistant Professor of History, Department of History and Political Science, Otterbein University Mia M. Dia, PE, founder of Women's Alliance for Leadership (WAL) in Dallas Texas Laurie Donovan, LMFT, LCSW Jim Downs, Associate Professor of History, Connecticut College David L. Eng, Richard L. Fisher Professor of English, University of Pennsylvania Eve Ensler, Author of The Vagina Monologues Anton Ford, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Chicago Sonia Pressman Fuentes, Speaker, Author, “Eat First–You Don't Know What They'll Give You, The Adventures of an Immigrant Family and Their Feminist Daughter” Lauren J. Gantz, PhD Candidate, Department of English, University of Texas at Austin Montserrat Garibay, National Board Certified Teacher, Vice President for LULAC Council 4859, Austin, Texas Terri E. Givens, Associate Professor, Department of Government, University of Texas at Austin Shari Goldberg, Assistant Professor of Literary Studies, University of Texas at Dallas Gilbert G. Gonzalez, Professor Emeritus, Chicano Latino Studies, UC Irvine Linda Gordon, University Professor of the Humanities, Florence Kelley Professor of History, New York University Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Coordinator of FOR Interfaith Peacewalks, Cofounder of Shomer Shalom Network for Jewish Nonviolence Elizabeth Gregory, Director, Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program, University of Houston Sondra Hale, Research Professor/Professor Emerita, Anthropology and Gender Studies, University of California, Los Angeles Lynne Hanley, professor emerita of literature and writing, Hampshire College Leslie Harris, Dallas Coordinator, CODEPINK Women for Peace Susan Sage Heinzelman, Associate Professor of Women's & Gender Studies, University of Texas, Austin Rosemary Hennessy, Director, Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality, Rice University Jim Hightower, editor of The Hightower Lowdown, former TX Agriculture Commissioner Kristen Hogan, English Literature and Women's and Gender Studies Librarian, University of Texas, Austin Nancy Hogshead-Makar , two-time Olympic champion Jim Holstun, English, SUNY Buffalo Michael Honey, Author and professor, University of Washington Tacoma Heather Houser, Assistant Professor of English, University of Texas, Austin Madeline Hsu, Associate Professor of History, University of Texas, Austin Alison Jaggar, Professor of Distinction, Philosophy and Women and Gender Studies Research Coordinator, University of Colorado at Boulder College Tsitsi Jaji, Assistant Professor of English, University of Pennsylvania Pranav Jani, Associate Professor, English, The Ohio State University Ann Rosalind Jones, Esther Cloudman Dunn Professor of Comparative Literature, Smith College Alison Kafer, Associate Professor of Feminist Studies, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX Chris Kaiser, Staff Attorney, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault Deena Kalai, PLLC Katie Kane, Associate Professor of English, The University of Montana Suvir Kaul, A. M. Rosenthal Professor, Department of English, University of Pennsylvania Michael Kazin, Professor of History, Georgetown University, Editor, Dissent William Keach, Professor of English, Brown University Marie Kennedy, Professor Emerita of Community Planning, University of Ma**achusetts Boston Linda K. Kerber, Brodbeck Professor of History Emerita, University of Iowa Alice Kessler-Harris, R. Gordon Hoxie Professor of History, Columbia University Katherine C. King, Professor Comparative Literature, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA David Klein, Professor of Mathematics, California State University, Northridge Karen Kocher, Lecturer, Department of Radio-TV-Film, University of Texas at Austin Deepa Kumar, Associate Professor of Communication, Rutgers University Christine Labuski, Assistant Professor, Women's and Gender Studies Program, Faculty Affiliate, Department of Science, Technology, and Society, Virginia Tech University Beryl Landau, Artist, San Francisco, CA Edward Lee MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Anne Lewis, Lecturer, Radio Television and Film, University of Texas, Austin, independent film-maker Holly Lewis, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Texas State University Bernth Lindfors, Professor Emeritus of English, University of Texas at Austin Arthur MacEwan, Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Ma**achusetts Boston Elaine Tyler May, Regents Professor, Departments of American Studies and History, University of Minnesota Bryan McCann, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Louisiana State University Edward J. McCaughan, Professor of Sociology, San Francisco State University Mona Mehdy, Associate Professor of Biology, University of Texas, Austin Carlos Muñoz, Jr., Chancellor's Distinguished Public Scholar and Professor Emeritus, Department of Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley Ruth Needleman, professor emeritus, Indiana University Mary Nolan, Professor, Department of History, New York University Vivian Norris, PhD Honorary Chair Muhamad Yunus Social Business MBA Huffington Post blogger, filmmaker Charlotte Nunes, PhD candidate, Department of English, UT-Austin Richard Oestreicher, Associate Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh Sarah R. Orem, Doctoral Candidate, Department of English, Managing Editor, Praxis: A Writing Center Journal, The University of Texas at Austin A. Naomi Paik, Assistant Professor of American Studies, University of Texas, Austin Thomas C. Patterson, Distinguished Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside Leslie Peirce, Silver Professor of History, New York University Ann Pellegrini, Director, Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, Associate Professor of Performance Studies & Religious Studies, New York University Ruth Perry, Ann Fetter Friedlaender Professor of Humanities at M.I.T. Russell Pinkston, Professor of Composition, University of Texas, Austin Jaime Puente, MA CMAS, PhD Student Dept of American Studies, UT Austin. Peter Rachleff, Professor of History, Macalester College Natalie J. Ring, Associate Professor of History, University of Texas at Dallas Rochelle G. Ruthchild, Professor Emerita of Graduate Studies, The Union Institute & University Sharmila Rudrappa, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Texas, Austin Roshni Rustomji-Kerns, Professor Emerita, Sonoma State University. CA Cynthia Valadez-Mata, Jr. , League of United Latin American Citizens – District 7 Director Simone Sessolo, Lecturer, the University of Michigan Jon Shelton, Assistant Professor, Democracy and Justice Studies, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Falguni A. Sheth, Associate Professor of Philosophy, and Political Theory, School of Critical Social Inquiry, Hampshire College Shu-mei Shih, Professor, Department of Comparative Literature, Asian Languages and Cultures, Asian American Studies Snehal Shingavi, Assistant Professor of English, University of Texas, Austin Professor Kaja Silverman, History of Art, University of Pennsylvania Joseph Slaughter, Associate Professor, Department of English and Comparative Literature, Columbia University Lindsay Smith, Houston Feminist Movement Ellen Spiro, Professor, University of Texas, Austin Clay Steinman, Professor, Media and Cultural Studies,Macalester College Kathleen Stewart, Professor and Chair of Anthropology, University of Texas Landon Storrs, Associate Professor of History, University of Iowa Susan Stryker, Director, Institute for LGBT Studies and Associate Professor, Gender and Women's Studies University of Arizona Merritt Tierce, Executive Director of Texas Equal Access Fund Sarah Tuttle, Board Member, The Lilith Fund Angela Valenzuela, Professor, Education Policy & Planning, University of Texas at Austin Alice Walker, Pulitzer PrizeChris Chiappari, Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology, St. Olaf College winner, author of The Color Purple Jennifer Jensen Wallach, Associate professor of history, University of North Texas Devra Weber, Associate Professor, History Department, UC Riverside Dan Welcher, Lee Hage Jamail Regents Professor of Composition, Butler School of Music, Director, UT New Music Ensemble Amanda Williams, Board of Directors, the Lilith Fund Dr. Carol Williams, Associate Professor, Chair of Women and Gender Studies, University of Lethbridge Jennifer Williams, Visiting Scholar at Rice University Courtney Williams Barron, doctoral candidate in American Studies, University of Texas at Austin Jennifer Wilks, Associate Professor of English and African and African Diaspora Studies, University of Texas, Austin Sherry Wolf, author, Sexuality and Socialism; editorial board, International Socialist Review. Keeanga Yahmatta-Taylor, author of Rats, Riots and Revolution: Black Housing in the 1960s, Texas native Lijun Yuan, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Texas State University, San Marcos Lee Zimmerman, Professor of English, Hofstra University; Editor Twentieth-Century Literture Dave Zirin, Sports Editor, The Nation Magazine Faith Action for Women in Need (FAWN) GetEqual TX NARAL Pro-Choice Texas