Georgia Women Arrested Protesting Bill That Would Let Employers Fire Women Who've Had An Abortion

[Lordquinton]

Last edited Wed Mar 25, 2015, 06:11 PM - Edit history (1)

In several states, Republican lawmakers are sponsoring bills that would allow employers to use “religious liberty” as an excuse to do whatever they want – including discriminate against customers or employees on the basis of religion.

Progressive activists in the state are leaving nothing to chance, realizing that if the bill passes, the state could see a new wave of discrimination similar to Jim Crow-style restrictions on African Americans. Some women's organizations are particularly concerned that right-wing employers could, for example, fire women who've had abortions.

On Monday, four women – Megan Harrison, Lorraine Fontana, Emma Stitt, and Jessica Reznicek – sought an audience with the bill's chief Senate sponsor, Republican Josh McKoon. Not only were the four women denied a meeting with McKoon, they were arrested.

At least two of the women – Emma Stitt and Jessice Reznicek -- have decided to refuse bond for now, saying they will stay in prison until the bill is defeated.

http://www.alternet.org/gender/georgia-women-arrested-protesting-bill-would-let-employers-fire-women-whove-had-abortion

Added link.

[cbayer]

1. Link please.

[Lordquinton]

3. Fixd

[cbayer]

5. Thanks. I tracked it down, but it's a great story that people may want to read more about.

[CurtEastPoint]

4. several but here's one. The goon sponsoring this bill also is doing the religious freedom thingie.

http://www.alternet.org/gender/georgia-women-arrested-protesting-bill-would-let-employers-fire-women-whove-had-abortion

[cbayer]

6. Here is a really lovely picture of the guy that sponsors him.

[CurtEastPoint]

7. No, the guy in the middle is the preacher dork that the legislator McKoon sponsors

or is the registered agent for or whatever. Buncha fucking weirdos.

Paul Voorhees is his name. You should see the shit on his FB page.

I am so embarrassed by my state.

[cbayer]

8. I'm not clear on their exact relationship, but they have

one, that's for sure.

I have family in Georgia and spend part of the year there. The politics make me queasy.

Very, very glad to see that there is a Moral Monday Georgia up and running and that they were behind this.

[CurtEastPoint]

9. What's weird also is that the 'preacher' is an ignorant fundy type and old McKoon

is Catholic. Now there are fundy Catholics but kinda rare, even here. I also find it odd that he of course is a visitor to Atlanta when the leg is in session and instead of going to one of the two downtown parishes that are lively, diverse and open, he chooses to go to the Cathedral in ladedah chi chi Buckhead, full of white Repubes. I guess I answered my own question.

There are some progressive rays of hope but what they have to go up against.... sigh...

[cbayer]

11. Yes, I think you answered your own question.

I have known Tom Price for a long time.

I watched him go from a perfectly likable moderate to a rabid RW party animal. I think once he got inside, he really got sucked into the whole thing, but he was always very ambitious.

[cbayer]

2. Very cool! They were participating via Moral Monday Georgia (a coalition of religious groups)

and NOW. The American Friends Service committee is also fundraising for them.

This is the old school kind of protests I would love to see more of.

Go Moral Monday Georgia!

[okasha]

10. Well, my religion says that damaging the environment

through disprporttionate consumption of resources is evil. If I had a business in Georgia, could I fire men who hadn't had vasectomies? Could I give them the shove for using Viagra?

[cbayer]

12. These are the kinds of unintended consequences that never occur

to them when they do this kind of shit. They are so blinded by their belief that they are right that they fail to consider how this could be turned back on them.