Progressive Democrat Issue 66: NATIONAL ACTION WITH MAINSTREET MOMS

Continued from last week with additions:
This comes from a Daily Kos Diary.

When the proposed abortion ban in South Dakota was announced earlier in the week, individuals were being encouraged to call the Department of Tourism, other South Dakota state offices, the headquarters of some of the businesses located in South Dakora (like Citibank, Gateway computer, and Iams). The point is to announce that you will be boycotting visiting South Dakota, or boycotting purchasing from South Dakota businesses, until that state shows that it has a commitment to equal civil rights for women!

An article in today's Rapid City Journal shows that this approach is working, but that the numbers are very small:

Abortion-rights advocates threaten to boycott S.D.
By Dan Daly, Journal Staff Writer

RAPID CITY -- The South Dakota Legislature's passage of an abortion ban bill prompted an angry reaction from abortion-rights supporters who vowed to boycott the state's tourism industry.

The state Department of Tourism received a dozen e-mails and a number of angry phone calls Friday from abortion-rights supporters who say they will not vacation in South Dakota.

A Madison, Wis.,-based group has formally called for a boycott of South Dakota tourism. In a news release titled "Bypass South Dakota!", the Women's Medical Fund urged supporters to steer clear of South Dakota.

"All kinds of families visit Mount Rushmore every year. It's a favorite of Americans and foreign tourists. But we can do without Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, the Badlands and the Corn Palace," Anne Gaylor, director of the Fund, wrote. "We are encouraging all groups who care about women's rights to urge their members to bypass South Dakota."

Billie Jo Waara, head of the state office of tourism, said her office has been hearing from people throughout the country.

"They have commented on the fact that the state is a great destination for travel, but our current political situation doesn't match their agenda," Waara said…

If you wish to tell South Dakota what you think of their abortion ban, please contact the following:

Department of Tourism and State Development 711 East Wells Avenue Pierre, SD 57501-3369 (605) 773-3256, fax

Economic Development (605) 773-5032, phone www.sdgreatprofits.com

Tourism (605) 773-3301, phone www.TravelSD.com

South Dakota Arts Council 800 Governor's Drive Pierre, SD 57501-2294 (605) 773-3131, phone www.state.sd.us/deca/sdarts/

State Historical Society 900 Governor's Drive Pierre, SD 57501-2217 (605) 773-3458, phone www.sdhistory.org

You can also write the South Dakota media and tell them you are outraged at their abortion ban and so are boycotting their state’s tourism.

This is the Right Wing’s definitive attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade. It is likely not to work, but the stronger our reaction the less likely another state will want to try anything this blatant again.

UPDATE: Mississippi is now following in the footsteps of South Dakota. I recommend writing the Mississippi media telling them that you are boycotting South Dakota’s as a tourist and that if they follow through with their threats against a woman’s choice over her body, you will boycott Mississippi’s tourist destinations.

Remember, if we don’t take action now, many more states will follow suit and the more conservative than ever Supreme Court may well back them up. Now is the time to take action.