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Nowhere is it more difficult to obtain an abortion than it is in South Dakota.  Women who are faced with abortion are also faced with a slew of regulations and restrictions.  We are a state of parental notification, 24 hour waiting periods, women must be asked if they wish to see their sonogram, and they go through mandatory education about their options.  A recent 8th Circuit Court ruling just changed that education to include a message from the doctor where he or she must tell the patient that she is “terminating the life of a whole, separate unique, living separate human being.”  On top of that, the doctor must tell the patient that having an abortion will increase her risk of suicide and depression despite the fact that there is absolutely no proof to support this claim.

It’s no wonder anti-choice extremists chose South Dakota as their battleground, and South Dakota residents as their pawns.

There is no doubt there is a larger agenda here than merely a ban with so-called “exceptions.”  These forces have their eyes on the United States Supreme Court.  They’ve set their sights on overturning Roe vs. Wade and they think South Dakota is the place to make that happen.

Last Tuesday, national leaders from the organizations fighting this battle joined together in Washington DC to announce the fight against this measure.  I think Cecile Richards, Executive Director for Planned Parenthood Federation of America said it best:  “This law, if it was adopted, would be the most extreme anti-abortion law in the country… This ban would take the most important decision that a woman and her family can make about carrying a pregnancy to term – a complex, moral, very personal decision – and take it out of her hands and give it to Big Government.  Make no mistake, this ban would not help the health care of a single woman in the state of South Dakota.”

I’ve never worked on a political campaign before.  I’ve always been interested in politics, the political process, our nation’s history and all of that.  As a former member of the media, I covered the last abortion ban in South Dakota, but never witnessed how things operate “behind the scenes.”

I gotta tell you, I didn’t know what to expect.   It’s intense to say the least.  I love it.  But, it’s much more adrenaline-driven than my job with Planned Parenthood.

There will be an ad shoot in South Dakota in the coming month or so for the fight against Initiated Measure 11.  I have been charged with helping our ad agency secure different “sets” and locations for these political ads.  Sounded easy enough to me.  I mean, afterall, in my previous life, I used to find places to shoot stories on a daily basis.

This, however, is a whole different phenomenon.  Turns out there’s a lot more that goes into the visual of an ad than I ever imagined.  What makes the right set?  Too dark, too light, too small, too contemporary, too shiny.  That was my favorite.  Hmmm…. Where to go next?  I’ve taken the “scout” out on like a dozen different locations, and none seem to be what anyone is looking for.

It’s actually caused me a bit of a physical headache… but it’s all a learning process… and all part of this very important work we’re doing.  I just think it’s something that no one really thinks about though.  All the details… all the hard work… all the people it takes.

So, the next time you see that political ad during your favorite TV show, give an extra moment’s thought to all the work that went into making that 30 seconds a reality.

Thanks for reading.  My headache is gone.  Time to think of some more locations…. Oh yeah… I’m also in charge of wardrobe.

Hi all,

My name is Shannon and I am thrilled to be a guest blogger for the next two weeks on Feministe.  This is such an exciting opportunity for me to get the word out on yet another abortion ban in South Dakota and what’s being done to make sure these important and difficult decisions stay in the hands of a woman, her family and her doctor without Government intrusion.

First, a little background:  I spent a little more than seven years of my career out of college as a television journalist in Sioux Falls, SD.  I am a communications major from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, went to college in Ohio and then came to South Dakota for my first reporting job.  Things went well and my family  and I chose to stay.

A little over a year ago, I decided it was time to try something new and I took a job as the South Dakota Community Organizer for Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.  Just one week ago, I came over to the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families working in communications.  I love what I do for both organizations and cannot wait to share with you the conditions on the ground here.

I was asked to be a guest blogger here because of the work that I do for www.standupsd.com.  It’s PP’s little site dedicated to the ban we’re facing here.

In case you’re not already aware, voters will be deciding on November 4^th if abortion should be illegal in our state.  This is yet another attempt by a small group of extremists who want to push their ideology on the rest of the population. It’s something South Dakota has been dealing with for years.  Perhaps you remember 2006 when we voted down another abortion ban by 12 points, speaking loud and clear that these are personal matters, not Government matters. 

Regardless, VoteYesForLife.com managed to collect enough signatures to put a similar ban on the ballot once again in the form of Initiated Measure 11.  This time, they say they’ve included “exceptions” in the measure, but that is false.  The language of these so-called exceptions is so vague that this is in all actuality a sweeping ban on abortion.  If it passes it will be the most rigid and inflexible ban on abortion in the United States.

Over the next two weeks I will share with you how things are progressing with the campaign against Initiated Measure 11.  We can talk about the message we want the entire country to hear loud and clear:  Let Families Decide.

Till next time…

Pretty Bird Woman House is a women’s shelter on the Standing Rock Lakota Sioux reservation in South Dakota. The refuge was opened in January 2006 against incredible odds and with almost no resources in one of the poorest places in the United States — 45% of Native American women in South Dakota live in poverty, and the unemployment rate on Standing Rock Reservation is 71%. But they stayed open continuously, thanks in part to creative outreach efforts for grassroots funding through the Internet. This year, with a staff of three women, the shelter answered nearly 400 crisis calls, helped 16 women get medical assistance, and gave emergency refuge to 188 women and 132 children. For these courageous and life-saving efforts, they have had to face down the hatred of some violent, controlling men. After two break-ins at the shelter house, the staff went back to using an old, unheated office space and transferring women to far-away shelters off the reservation. The day after they evacuated, the building was firebombed and burned down. They have been operating without an on-site house out of an unheated office in below-zero temperatures, while they reach out to find the money to build a new sanctuary from violence.

In order to rebuild, PBWH is trying to raise $70,000 by the end of next month. They have raised over $50,000 and you can help them reach their goal. Any donation will help immensely (most of what they have raised so far has come from small donations). To learn more about Pretty Bird Woman House, or to follow their progress, you can read more at their blog. Andy Ternay at Street Prophets has an in-depth history of Pretty Bird Woman House, an overview on the violence faced by women on Standing Rock Reservation, an explanation of the shelter’s immediate needs, and comments from the director, Georgia Little Shield.

You can make a contribution immediately online through PayPal:

Or you can send a check made out to Pretty Bird Woman House to:

Pretty Bird Woman House
P.O. Box 596
McLaughlin, SD 57642

All donations are tax-deductible. Please give whatever you can. And please use your blog, e-mail, or whatever means you have at your disposal to let your friends and contacts know about this effort. Pretty Bird Woman House must, and will, rise from the ashes, and together we can help make that happen as soon as possible.

After I find the father of my future children (or decide to adopt) and welcome a baby girl into my life, she shall be named Cecilia Fire Thunder. Not only it is the coolest name ever but, DAMN! This woman is living testament to the fire and thunder of her name.

[via Cecilia Fire Thunder, Ogala Sioux President vows to build Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinic on own land | BlogSheroes]:

"When Governor Mike Rounds signed HB 1215 into law it effectively banned all abortions in the state with the exception that it did allow saving the mother's life. There were, however, no exceptions for victims of rape or incest. His actions, and the comments of State Senators like Bill Napoli of Rapid City, SD, set of a maelstrom of protests within the state.

Napoli suggested that if it was a case of "simple rape," there should be no thoughts of ending a pregnancy. Letters by the hundreds appeared in local newspapers, mostly written by women, challenging Napoli's description of rape as "simple." He has yet to explain satisfactorily what he meant by "simple rape."

The President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Cecilia Fire Thunder, was incensed. A former nurse and healthcare giver she was very angry that a state body made up mostly of white males, would make such a stupid law against women.

"To me, it is now a question of sovereignty," she said to me last week. "I will personally establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on my own land which is within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation where the State of South Dakota has absolutely no jurisdiction."

Strong words from a very strong lady. I hope Ms. Fire Thunder challenges Gov. Rounds and the state legislators on this law that is an affront to all independent women."

After I find the father of my future children (or decide to adopt) and welcome a baby girl into my life, she shall be named Cecilia Fire Thunder. Not only it is the coolest name ever but, DAMN! This woman is living testament to the fire and thunder of her name.

[via Cecilia Fire Thunder, Ogala Sioux President vows to build Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinic on own land | BlogSheroes]:

"When Governor Mike Rounds signed HB 1215 into law it effectively banned all abortions in the state with the exception that it did allow saving the mother's life. There were, however, no exceptions for victims of rape or incest. His actions, and the comments of State Senators like Bill Napoli of Rapid City, SD, set of a maelstrom of protests within the state.

Napoli suggested that if it was a case of "simple rape," there should be no thoughts of ending a pregnancy. Letters by the hundreds appeared in local newspapers, mostly written by women, challenging Napoli's description of rape as "simple." He has yet to explain satisfactorily what he meant by "simple rape."

The President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Cecilia Fire Thunder, was incensed. A former nurse and healthcare giver she was very angry that a state body made up mostly of white males, would make such a stupid law against women.

"To me, it is now a question of sovereignty," she said to me last week. "I will personally establish a Planned Parenthood clinic on my own land which is within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation where the State of South Dakota has absolutely no jurisdiction."

Strong words from a very strong lady. I hope Ms. Fire Thunder challenges Gov. Rounds and the state legislators on this law that is an affront to all independent women."

March 8 is International Women's Day, and the Leader of the Free World has declared an end to sexual exploitation of women, free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, it's a miracle. And if he can't change the whole world by executive order, today he's at least making a stern example of those South Dakota sex traffickers and exploiters of women and young girls?

Off to tell my teen-aged daughter the great news that it's morning in America and starting today, she'll be judged on the content of her character, not her uterus. . .

From the festive Voice of America holiday story:

"America will help women stand up for their freedom no matter where they live."

The president says his administration is working with other nations to end sexual exploitation and the human trafficking of women and young girls . . .

March 8 is International Women's Day, and the Leader of the Free World has declared an end to sexual exploitation of women, free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, it's a miracle. And if he can't change the whole world by executive order, today he's at least making a stern example of those South Dakota sex traffickers and exploiters of women and young girls?

Off to tell my teen-aged daughter the great news that it's morning in America and starting today, she'll be judged on the content of her character, not her uterus. . .

From the festive Voice of America holiday story:

"America will help women stand up for their freedom no matter where they live."

The president says his administration is working with other nations to end sexual exploitation and the human trafficking of women and young girls . . .