Turning My House Into A Station......

[Laxman]

on a new Underground Railroad. A modest proposal that makes me think about the folks 160 or so years ago who lent their hands to people fleeing opression. I've had this discussion with my wife. Our youngest has just moved out and we suddenly (or really not so suddenly) find ourselves alone in our home for the first time in nearly 30 years. Putting aside for a moment, the obvious romantic implications and opportunities this presents (I will not go further than to state that we are fortunate to still have a strong mutual attraction after over 40 years together) we find ourselves living in a large home with extra bedrooms with comfy beds in a very blue state. We have agreed that we would be willing to make our home available as a safe haven for women from states that ban or severely restrict abortion. Thinking this through, we would be able to arrrange pick-ups from the airport or train station, transportation to a doctor, a safe place to stay at no cost, a home cooked meal and a couple of friendly faces for a night or two before a return trip back home to whichever province of Gilead they live in. I'm sure we have friends that would help with driving and cooking and pitching in whatever they can.

Now this is not a solution to the larger problem. I wish I had the financial wherewithall to underwrite transportation and medical costs. I wish I had the policital clout to influence and change things. Outside of all of that wishing, this is something that is actually within our ability to get done. Fixing this situation right now is beyond our pay grade and at best we could only help a handful of women. It's a treatment of the symptoms, not curing the disease. However, creating a network of people willing to make the same offer has the potential to at least provide a not so insubstantial degree of sanctuary from opression while its needed. I'm also sure that we're probably not the first people to come up with this idea.

So long as things continue to be headed in their current direction, interim measures will be necessary. Voting, protesting, writing your representatives and making angry Facebook posts-they have their place, but they're not going to assist anyone who needs help now. There are things we can do that have a practical impact until this shit gets fixed. What can two people do to change things? Maybe not so much, but multiply that by however many people who are out there with the ability to do the same-it might just make a difference. We don't have a lot, but we do have something to offer that can create an impact.

[onecaliberal]

1. I can accommodate some folks as well.

[Laxman]

4. This Can Be Done....

right? Just have to figure out the logistics-like any project large or small.

[onecaliberal]

10. Yes. And we must do it.

[ChazII]

2. Only 1 bedroom that serves as a guest bedroo,

but what you are suggesting is something that I could do as well. You have a good idea, imho.

[MineralMan]

3. Kudos to you and your wife!

[Solly Mack]

5. Thank you. Hosts are needed.

You'll have to make it known to your local women's clinic and they can arrange with you for hosting.

The clinic can offer you up information on being a host or they can give you more info on where call to make arrangements.

Hosts and drivers are needed.

Sometimes women have to bring their children with them. They have no childcare alternatives.

You will be screened. Not personal. It's for the safety of those seeking health care.

Thank you for your willingness to help.

[Laxman]

8. That Just Makes Sense....

that this isn't a "rocket surgeon" level of idea. But getting the word out to women in states that do restrict abortion that they have some hope & help if they find themselves in an unfortunate situation (along with getting people in states where women's health care is readily available to know this opportunity exists) would seem to be a key component of making this work on a large scale.

[wnylib]

18. Publicizing the info in anti abortion states

would probably be prohibited by law.

But there are blue state residents who have red state relatives and friends that they could pass the word to.

Get word to pro choice health care workers in anti abortion states so they can refer women. Risky if they refer the "wrong" woman, or one who is set up to trap people giving referrals.

But word does seem to get around in repressive situations.

[lastlib]

21. Maybe Planned Parenthood could create a database of folks willing to do this....

or another prominent org. Shouldn't be terrribly hard to do.

[Ilsa]

6. Thank you. I wish I could help,

but I'm still too far away from from a state that doesn't ban women's healthcare.

[AllaN01Bear]

7. dang nabbit. i was just going to say that when i read your title .

i am still

[RainCaster]

9. In my blue state, the hospitals are increasingly RED

In Washington state, more hospitals and doctors clinics are being bought up by a Catholic Alliance known as "CHI Franciscan". Right now, they own every hospital in my county, except for the VA hospital. They refuse to admit any doctor who does not agree to their draconian rules- no abortion, no end of life directives... Without that ability to see their patients once admitted to, these independent doctors are quietly retiring.

[Rebl2]

11. I don't think

any religion should be allowed to buy hospitals.

[Wounded Bear]

15. Could have sworn we passed laws to restrict those health decisions...

I'm a Washingtonian, too, and I've been concerned about the Catholic takeover of our hospitals as well, for just that reason.

I thought the Legislature took care of that a couple of years ago, because it sucks.

Doctors should not be restrained by religious doctrines.

[wnylib]

19. Where are they getting their money from

when the Catholic Church is going broke over sex abuse cases?

Sounds like there is a need for independent clinics that are dedicated to principle and will not sell.

[Karadeniz]

12. Thanks for helping!!!! Noone would want to come to my state for this purpose!!!

[wnylib]

20. NY Governor Hochul publicly stated that

NY will welcome women from states where abortion is forbidden. NY has codified abortion rights into law.

[ShazzieB]

29. So does Illinois, and our governor was happy to sign the legislation into law!

I know I've been blowing my state's horn a lot lately. That's just because I want to make sure people know that ALL the blue states aren't on the coasts. I think most DUers are aware of that, but you never know who might be reading these posts. 😁

[wnylib]

36. Since I am in the far western part of NY,

I usually do not think of us as a coastal state, but I guess that southeastern corner of NYC does qualify us as one.

I am closer to Cleveland than to NYC. Coast around here means Lakes Erie and Ontario.

[iluvtennis]

13. Love it!! n/t

[mysteryowl]

14. For the sake of discussion...

Is there any legal risk to a station host if they are in a blue state?
I would think it would be safe.

The legal risk is to the red state woman that needs abortion care. How to protect them?
We don't know yet, but something to consider in all of this.

[wnylib]

22. I don't see any risk to people in blue states

helping red state women. But, those women from red states might face prosecution when they return home. We need to come up with a way to protect them from that

[SammyWinstonJack]

49. How would anyone know if a red state woman left to have an abortion in a blue state?

I sure wouldn't inform anyone of my plan to visit a blue state in order to have an abortion.

[wnylib]

51. A woman with an unwanted pregnancy

is often under stress over learning that she is pregnant. She might confide in a friend. People sometimes share confidential information with another person. The woman might inform the baby's father that she is pregnant. People close to her might recognize signs that she is pregnant without her telling anyone. If she then is not around for a couple days, they get suspicious.

Since medical records are confidential, no one can confirm their suspicions that she had an abortion. But if she confided in just one person, word can get out. For example, a married woman finds that she is pregnant, discusses it with her husband, and decides that she doesn't want the child. Her husband does want it. If she gets an abortion, he could turn her in out of anger.

There are many circumstances in which a woman or girl could decide on abortion after people in her life know that she is pregnant. When she goes away for a few days and then is no longer pregnant, they know.

[wryter2000]

28. I think under the Texas law you could be sued

CT now has a law that will allow people to sue back in CT courts and recoup their money. You'd have to be in CT, though.

[mysteryowl]

41. lawsuits are expensive

This is such a mess!

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

16. You would have to figure out how to avoid the "Bounty Laws"

Not to get too esoteric about venue and jurisdiction, but I could see people in states that have the bounty laws like Texas outing host families and suing them, IN TEXAS, claiming that they had a significant enough interest in the health and welfare of their residents, born and unborn, that would enable them to drag you into court in some bumphuck county 1,500 miles from your house to collect $10,000 for every woman that you helped. Those judgements would be enforcable, at least when you go to sell your house. Not to throw cold water on a good, no great, idea, but you would need to take that into consideration. My bill is in the mail.

[wnylib]

23. Blue state governors have come out strongly

in support of women seeking abortions in blue states. Governor Hochul has publicly announced that they are welcome to come to NY.

I think that those blue state governors and legislatures would fight back to protect their own residents. Perhaps we will see dualing laws, with blue states passing laws that protect their own residents from overreaching laws in other states.

[electric_blue68]

33. Hooo, boy it could come to that!

[H2O Man]

17. Recommended.

Genius! I love it!

My house used to be a stage coach station, and included a doctor's office, shortly after the Revolutionary War. My kids are all adults with busy lives of their own. While I enjoy solitude, I am thinking you are on to something extremely important here. Actually, I don't just "think" that, I know it.

Thank you so much for this!

[Laxman]

37. Of All Of The Members Of DU.....

I think you are one of the people who would appreciate my explanation for this the most. I don't post much, but I read yours all the time and they are always interesting and thought provoking.

If it were my rights that were being abridged, I'd stand up for myself. But to be a real American (in my opinion) you have to want this to be a country where everyone's rights are worth protection and if you beleive this country's ideals, you should be willing to stand up for others even when it's not your interests that are directly impacted. It's not really the country we like to believe it is if all of our fellow citizens aren't treated fairly or afforded the rights that we claim to be inalienable and due to every person. I don't know if I would have had the courage to march across the Edmund Pettis Bridge or conduct a voter registration drive for people of color in Mississippi in 1964 (I'd like to think I would have-but I don't know) Would I have protested the Vietnam War or burned my draft card in 1967? Again, I don't know, but I would like to believe I had that kind of fortitude. I never played a sport on a stage big enough to matter, but would I have had the guts to kneel during the National Anthem in front of a stadium full of people and on national television to protest police violence? Who knows, I just have the convictions of an arm-chair warrior because its just theorectical. Go back through our history for other examples. Would I have housed runaway slaves, stood up for immigrants, fought against McCarthyism-go on and on. I was never in a position to prove what is otherwise just a lot of big talk.

This is a relatively small thing that many of us can do that wouldn't really cost us in the manner that standing up for being an American has cost so many others over the years. I'm an older white guy with sons. It's still personal, and not just because of my wife or my sisters or all of the women I know and respect. You're going to treat more than half of the country as second-class citizens (or worse) by virtue of their gender? That's not OK with me. You don't often get a chance to make a difference on big issues. You need to take advantage of the opportunties when they arise. If something like this can be pulled off on a larger scale, there's a lot of people who can make a difference for a lot of our fellow Americans-who just happen to be women. I appreciate the recommendation. It means a lot coming from you.

[H2O Man]

42. Local history records

that the doctor that lived here was an abolitionists in his later years. A young man who worked at the cloth & carding factory at the waterfalls married the doctor's daughter. Both became school teachers, and started a "college" across the turnpike from the regular school. Then he became an attorney, and served in both the state & federal government, and was friends with Lincoln. I sometimes think about the conversations the doctor and the Senator/federal attorney must have had. I'll have to get up to the "pioneer" cemetery to tend to the doctor's grave again soon.

My place was not part of the Underground Railroad, but I know of a couple area houses that were. I liked an 1888 article on Dr. Knapp, that said he "was known for peddling blue pills and abolitionist papers."

[Laxman]

43. Now That's Cool....

Thank goodness there were enlightened people who saved our country from a very dark path. There was an educated class who took social responsibility very seriously. I guess no television or social media meant you had to find outlets for your more sophisticated thoughts that went beyond memes and tik-tok videos. I joked with my wife that perhaps our 1960's ranch house would become an historic site someday.

[Marthe48]

24. I live in Ohio but I could have a waystation

If people are driving to where they need to go, stops along the way there and back would be helpful. I have a spare room and 2 bathrooms.

If this idea takes off, please count me in, and let me know how to be a safe house.

[wryter2000]

25. I have money but too small an apartment to host someone

What state do you live in? I'll pm you.

[qwlauren35]

30. Contact the National Network of Abortion Funds.

They have local organizations that need drivers and escorts as well as host homes.

I hope to offer my home as a host home when I retire, but for now, I hope to be an escort. I'm in the midst of the screening process.

http://www.abortionfunds.org

[wryter2000]

32. thanks

I could give to Planned Parenthood, but I want my money to go to this purpose specifically.

[electric_blue68]

34. I was thinking Planned Parenthood (donations) but yeah, this is better, or in addition to. Ty.

[qwlauren35]

35. That's how I feel.

I gave to NARAL. I give to Planned Parenthood. I gave to EMILY'S List. It didn't do the trick. And now this.

I am trying to step up my game without hurting financially. Being an escort costs nothing (except gas). I am happy to do something concrete to help these women. No matter who they are, no matter their circumstances.

[BlackSkimmer]

26. Please keep us posted if and when you put this into practice.

A good idea.

[Thunderbeast]

27. The Oregon Legislature approved funding to support border clinics.

Ontario Oregon is less than an hour (80MPH speed limit) from Boise, Idaho. Planned Parenthood is planning for the influx of new patients. State revenues will subsidize these services for low income visitors.

[electric_blue68]

31. Blessings on you and others for this...

(while another part of me has eyes as big as saucers looking at this potential further Gilead scenario)

I don't have anything like space for that but I will dedicate some of my modest dollars on an ongoing basis to the various organizations helping our beleaguered women sisters.

[Hortensis]

38. DU is "social media," and people involved in both illegal actions

and ones that generate enmity are being tracked down through social media posts and connections. Just a thought in case anything like this did turn out to be, worst case, needed and organized.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

39. You mean like the law going after people who organize to overthrow the government?

sorry, i just.....had to.

[Hortensis]

40. :) Well, needing to come up with more than $100K in legal bills

fighting prosecution, jail time, lost employment, lost friends and family, death threats from people in their community and across the nation would be problematic in themselves. A lot of the J6 people were outed by private citizens and hackers who hunted them on social media, others by the FBI and state authorities.

And we laughed at their absurd foolishness at posting their intentions and connections publicly.

There are two big, general possibilities: either none of this will be necessary because almost everyone can still get legal abortion or it will and the people involved will become targets of state and federal authorities and private hunters.

Of course more laws would be passed in many states to attempt to make every possible aid illegal or otherwise dangerous. Even if laws that sent some DUers to prison were eventually overturned, the possibility of being incarcerated for years while appeals made their way up the chain is something to consider NOW.

Before establishing internet documentation that makes tracking them down a joke.

[JosieSD]

44. I would prefer a system of plane tickets/hotel rooms

1. The idea of putting a woman going through an emotional experience in the home of a stranger strikes me as odd. And also potentially dangerous. Couching that housing in terms of fugitive slaves just makes it weirder.

2. There are going to be attempts by legislators in red states to reach across state lines and prosecute people who assist in these things. I think putting a step between you and the person would make sense.

[Laxman]

45. Your Opinion Is Duly Noted.....

I find the fact that you don't understand the relationship to people fleeing opression and people fleeing opression wierd quite frankly.

[AZLD4Candidate]

46. You have a very odd outlook on people trying to help.

[JosieSD]

50. I just suggested how I would help

I’ve been giving monthly donations to PP for a decade.

I think a vulnerable person going to a stranger’s house is odd when there’s a Courtyard up the road.

[roamer65]

47. Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.

I am confident our 1931 zombie abortion ban law is going to be struck down in MI.

Michigan will be able to help Ohio and Indiana women for sure.

Wayne and Washtenaw County, MI prosecutors have already publically announced there will be no prosecutions in those counties for abortion services.

[niyad]

48. Thank you.