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CATCH Center for Analysis and Tracking of Clinic Harassers

CATCH Center for Analysis and Tracking of Clinic Harassers

CATCH
Center for Analysis and Tracking of Clinic Harassers

An essential tool in the fight to protect our communities here & across the country

Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion – Choice Matters Inc. (Choice Matters) seeks support for post-pilot development of CATCH, a digital resource that captures the legal tools necessary to fight all those that perpetrate human right violations against abortion providers, patients, and medical facilities.

Attacks on abortion clinics, patients, and providers have hit a record high. The National Abortion Federation (NAF) recorded these 2021 increases: 600% in stalking; 450% in blockades; 163% in hoax devices/suspicious packages; 129% in invasions; and 128% in assault and battery. In 2022, even as many clinics were forced to close, every form of violence increased over 2021.

Providers and medical facilities have limited tools and strategies to fight back. While there are national databases that track laws and incidents, no organization is tracking anti-abortion terrorist individuals or successful legal remedies. In exhaustive detail, CATCH records extremist tactics and analyzes who, what, where, when, how—thereby tracking the anatomy of the crime, including the opposition’s attorneys, legal strategies, verdicts, judges, sentences, and more. It can identify a legal precedent to battle roadblocks injected by the defense. It identifies everything a medical facility, law enforcement agency and/or district attorneys needs to win, prosecute, and hold criminals accountable.

A Record of Success

“Key to our victory both in court and with the quashing of two subpoenas was Catherine Lederer-Plaskett. The work that Catherine and her CATCH staff are doing is critical. Without their work, abortion providers will continue to struggle to respond to this new form of vigilantism.” —Constance Considine, Chief Administrator, All Women’s Medical Office Based Surgery, PLLC

>CATCH was key to the successful prosecution of three violent perpetrators who invaded a reproductive medical facility in White Plains, NY, on 11/27/2021, providing the Westchester County District Attorney and the independent counsel to the medical facility with the information needed to quash two subpoenas and obtain a conviction and tough sentencing.

>In 2023, CATCH research successfully defended the Westchester County “Clinic Access Law,” the Reproductive Health Care Facilities Access Act, in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, denying the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction.

>In June 2023, CATCH stood with NYS Attorney General Letitia James to announce a lawsuit against militant, anti-abortionists Red Rose Rescue for the blocking and invading of clinics.

BACKGROUND

A New Wave of Anti-Choice Extremists

The modus operandi of new wave anti-abortion agitators like Red Rose Rescue, Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust and Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising is to invade and occupy reproductive healthcare facilities while other agitators overwhelm and terrify patients. These dangerous extremists are not bound by state lines. Unfortunately, most law enforcement is. The same people who attacked in White Plains, Long Island and New York City have crossed into New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and elsewhere. Medical facilities are defenseless against these tactics, which waste time and money that would otherwise serve women’s vital medical needs. CATCH will assist jurisdictions as they fight these battles, allowing prosecutors, police and health centers to “learn” across state lines and defend women’s rights to safely access medical clinics.

2022 Successful Prosecution of White Plains Clinic Invaders

CATCH staff collected and catalogued actual accounts as presented by the vigilantes’ social media accounts: their own words were used to document their actions and intent, including photographs and videos of the invasion from various sources. Arguments from similar crimes were collected. Histories of these men’s past criminal trespasses were collected, documenting an extensive history of violent actions. This information supported the Westchester County District Attorney’s office and the independent counsel to the medical facility; the former used the full amalgamation of research, while the independent counsel used past arguments as a guide to quash two subpoenas. The three invaders were convicted and sentenced to the fullest extent permitted under the law.

Using CATCH to Defend A Clinic Safety Law

In August 2022, two challenges to the June 2022 Westchester County “Clinic Access Law,” the Reproductive Health Care Facilities Access Act, were filed in federal court. The plaintiffs made a motion for an immediate injunction, claiming that the law prohibited sidewalk counsellors [sic] – anti- abortion activists – from exercising their First Amendment rights. CATCH laid bare the opposition’s social media and online accounts, showing videos in which the plaintiffs laid out their strategies and goal, to overturn Hill v. Colorado, upon which all clinic access buffer zones are based. CATCH photographed and videotaped demonstrators in front of clinics in Westchester County, documenting anti-choice zealots exercising their First Amendment rights. The Westchester County Attorney’s Office based its entire objection to the motion for an immediate injunction on materials provided by CATCH and won. The motion was denied! “The judge relied upon the photos and videos you [CATCH] provided in his decision.” —Westchester County Attorney John Nonna

CATCH will continue to provide assistance to the Westchester County Attorney’s Office, including most recently with the filing of an amicus brief.

About Our Fiscal Sponsor, The Center for Transformative Action (CTA)

The Center for Transformative Action (CTA) is an independent 501(c)3 organization affiliated with Cornell University. Founded over 50 years ago, in 1971, as the Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy (CRESP), CTA’s purpose is to help create communities that are socially just, ecologically sound, and work for everyone. Because of CTA’s fiscal sponsorship status, all donations to CATCH are tax deductible. Their website is The Center for Transformative Action.

Together We Deliver

Together We Deliver

Dear Friends,

#GivingTuesday is one of the most important events of the year, and it’s only 9 days away. We hope you will choose to support Choice Matters.

Help us build a healthy, thriving democracy  in which every woman has a say in her future. Please donate today.

For over 50 years, Choice Matters has fought for full, unimpeded access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare for ALL. We’ve never wavered. Our work creates lasting, systemic change.

For Choice Matters, 2023 was a BIG year.
💥 94% of the candidates we supported won!

💥 In Albany, Choice Matters saw bills signed into law that we consider key to protecting and advancing reproductive health care, including legislation:
1.Requiring all 89 SUNY and CUNY universities to provide access to medication abortion on campus or with a referral;
2. Expanding protection to healthcare providers when providing medication abortion via telehealth to patients living in states where it may be restricted or outlawed; and
3.Permitting  specifically trained pharmacists to distribute self-administered contraceptives, even if patients don’t have a prescription from their doctor or nurse practitioner.

💥  Choice Matters established CATCH (Center for Analysis and Tracking of Clinic Harassers). This unique national resource center tracks anti-abortion terrorists, compiles strategic resources for clinics, and will showcase legal strategies to successfully halt harassers from violent attacks.

💥 Choice Matters joined together with Citizens for a Democratic Judiciary to demand a more transparent process in the selection of judges.

Your support will help Choice Matters mobilize more women to advocate for their rights and expand their participation and impact.#GivingTuesday!

Abortion Rights – The BIG Winner!

Abortion Rights – The BIG Winner!

Abortion Rights WON BIG on Tuesday, November 7th!

Abortion was on the ballot across the country — from Ohio to Kentucky to Virginia to Westchester County — and voters were decisive and unequivocal They voted to protect abortion rights and the candidates who stand for comprehensive reproductive health care, by a clear margin.

Ohio passed its proposition, putting abortion rights into the state constitution despite an onslaught of intentional deception by anti-choice zealots. With the passage of the ballot measure, Ohio’s six-week abortion ban is derailed. Ohio will be prevented from restricting abortion access before fetal viability.

Kentucky re-elected pro-choice Democratic Governor Andy Beshear in a bright red state. Beshear ran openly and proudly as a champion of comprehensive reproductive health care while his Republican opponent Daniel Cameron’s anti-abortion record became a key issue in the race. Cameron supports a total abortion ban with very limited exceptions.

Virginia defeated anti-choice Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin who wasn’t even on the ballot. Youngkin invested heavily in supporting GOP candidates to take control of the state’s Senate and House of Delegates. Youngkin — promoting what would have resulted in a GOP trifecta state win — promised a 15-week abortion ban. He LOST! Not only did the Democrats maintain control of the Virginia State Senate, they flipped the House of Delegates in their favor!

Westchester has re-elected its pro-choice Board of Legislators — a pro-active board that in the face of violence against women, providers and reproductive health care facilities — passed the first safe clinic access bill to ever become law in our County.

The candidates running on the Republican line for Westchester County Board of Legislators (and in several of the towns and villages) were anti-choice and many were extreme MAGA Republicans  — with a primary focus being to overturn the “Safe Clinic Access” legislation passed into law in 2022. There were enough contested seats on the ballot to change the balance of the Board on Legislators from pro-choice to anti-choice.

Our voters came out in force here in Westchester and pro-choice voters came out across the country. That did not happen by accident.

A lot of hard work, sweat and, yes, tears goes into this work. It cannot happen without your support. We need to keep our eyes on 2024 and use this election to propel us forward.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO! 

THE 2024 Elections are HERE! The ERA will be on the ballot in New York AND all the seats in the NYS Senate and Assembly. Please make a donation now in support of our work that starts today as we turn our focus to the 2024 elections. 

CAN WE COUNT ON YOU?

The Post-Roe Monologues – Don’t Miss Out!

The Post-Roe Monologues – Don’t Miss Out!

Dear Friends,

On November 6th, the night before Election Day 2023, you have the unique opportunity to see The Post-Roe Monologues, written by Mimi Zieman, an OB/GYN, researcher and interviewer. Zieman wrote this play in direct response to the Dobbs decision. It was and is inspired by the true stories from her work.

Those of us who care “know”.

What do we know? That the past 16 months have been hell for anyone seeking or providing abortion care in the United States.

The Dobbs decision brought with it a tidal wave of assaults on access to abortion care.

But it has also brought very loud voices, spanning the country, coming from every single state, fighting back. Whether for candidates who support comprehensive reproductive health care or referendums demanding the inclusion of abortion care in state constitutions, our voices are loud. We will be heard.

THIS PLAY – The Post-Roe Monologues – IS INSPIRATIONAL!!!!!

https://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch/event/the-post-roe-monologues/  

Special availability for Seniors and Students.
To Become a Sponsor – Click Here!

The Post-Roe Monologues
 

The Post-Roe Monologues, a play with music, was written by an OB/GYN in the trenches of caring for people affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The play uniquely delivers on all levels, presenting a diverse cast of characters—inspired by true stories, interviews, and research—who deliver poignant monologues, and who interact in surprising ways. Those interactions underlie the theme of “we are all connected,” because although people may think that the Dobbs Supreme Court ruling doesn’t affect them – it does. These stories are intimate. These stories increase understanding, compassion, and motivate action.

We are planning a timely and urgent one-night presentation of The Post-Roe Monologues and are reaching out to you to join our team.

This performance will feature star actors, followed by a panel discussion to raise funds for reproductive rights groups including the National Abortion Hotline, and Choice Matters.Will you join us?

Sponsorship* Opportunities, and listing in the program:
Co-Producer: $5,000.00, includes four tickets to the show and post-panel reception.
Associate Producer: $2,500.00 includes two tickets to the show and post-panel reception.
Champion: $1,000.00 includes two tickets to the show and post-panel reception.

The Post-Roe Team
Amas Musical theater (Donna Trinkoff/Artistic Producer) is a non-profit theater devoted to the creation of new American musicals, celebration of equity and minority perspectives, and the emergence of new artistic talent.

Executive Producer:Jim Kierstead is a Grammy-nominated, Emmy, Olivier, and six-time Tony Award-winning producer of the Broadway, touring, Toronto, and London productions of Kinky Boots, Pippin, Hadestown, The Inheritance, The Lehman Trilogy, and Company.

Producer:Lisa Reich co-produced regional, and Off-Broadway shows, and executive produced several award-winning short films and was associate producer for an Emmy nominated series.

Director:Maria Torres is a world-renowned choreographer, director, producer, and performer whose contributions have led the way for Latinos in the arts. She is an active member of the League of Professional Theater Women and founded the Maria Torres Emerging Artists Foundation to mentor aspiring artists.

Playwright and Producer:Mimi Zieman, MD is the author of Managing Contraception, the forthcoming memoir, Tap Dancing on Everest, and numerous published essays.

*tax-deductible and payable to Amas for “Post-Roe.” ID: 23-7057226. Address: 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1400, New York, NY 10036

Co-Hosts Include:
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The News about Primary Day 2023!

The News about Primary Day 2023!

Primaries are being held
in the following Westchester County Jurisdictions:
The Westchester County Board of Legislators
2 Democratic Primary Contests
District 11 (Pelham, Pelham Manor & parts of New Rochelle)
Candidates: Terry Clements, Ximena Francella

Both candidates are rated A+/100% Pro-Choice
Incumbent Terry Clements voted for the passage of the Reproductive Health Care Facilities Access Act.
Ximena Francella is a Planned Parenthood Action Fund Board Member.

District 16 (parts of Yonkers)
Candidates: Christopher (“Chris”) Johnson, Shanae Williams

Incumbent Chris Johnson voted for the passage of the Reproductive Health Care Facilities Access Act and to Ban Conversion Therapy.
His Opponent Shanae Williams has no legislative record on these issues. (more…)

Positive Change! Introducing CATCH!

Positive Change! Introducing CATCH!

There is a lot of news in the world of abortion rights, and much of it is not good.

But last Thursday was GREAT!

Choice Matters stood with NYS Attorney General James to announce a lawsuit against Red Rose Rescue clinic invaders in NYS. We were at the Planned Parenthood in Hempstead, NY.

And Choice Matters introduced the world to CATCH (Center for Analysis and Tracking of Clinic Harassers). CATCH does the research behind lawsuits like this one.

CATCH is making a real difference in real time to protect providers and patients! 

CATCH is a new, unique, national resource center which tracks anti-abortion terrorists. It compiles strategic resources for clinics and is showcasing legal strategies to successfully halt harassers from violent attacks. CATCH will provide a road map for law enforcement and prosecutors to effectively hold these violent offenders responsible to the fullest extent of the law. It will also provide information useful in the defense of legislative challenges by attorneys working to reverse reproductive justice laws.

Please watch these two links:
AG James announcing the lawsuit.
Catherine Lederer-Plaskett explaining the impact of the lawsuit and CATCH’s key work.

CATCH is making a seismic difference at a critical time.

Last week was a bad week for women

Last week was a bad week for women

Staying alert makes you a better voter, a better advocate.

Last Week’s Bad News
MIFEPRISTONE – MEDICATION ABORTION

Last Wednesday, the case to ban mifepristone nationwide was heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. Considered to be one of the most conservative in the country, the court has consistently ruled against the Biden Justice Department.

The outcome before the 5th Circuit looks bleak. The three-court panel was exceedingly “unfriendly”, verging on snarky, to attorneys representing the Justice Department and mifepristone distributor Danco Laboratories. In contrast, they were welcoming to attorneys for the plaintiffs, a coalition of anti-abortion national medical associations under the umbrella of the “Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine” plus several doctors.

This case started in Texas and was heard by a Trump-appointed U.S. district court judge, who decided to outlaw mifepristone—one of the two pills in medication abortion. It made its way through the 5th Circuit to the US Supreme Court, which sent it back to the 5th Circuit.

Before sending it back, the Supreme Court did preserve access to mifepristone, and thus to medication abortion, by freezing both lower-court rulings while the appeals are being heard. (Justices Thomas and Alito dissented.)

Mifepristone has been used safely in combination with misoprostol to terminate pregnancies since it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 23 years ago. It has been approved in 90 other countries. More than half of U.S. abortions are medication abortions.

As reported in The New York Times: “The case is the most important abortion-related dispute to reach the high court since the justices overturned Roe v. Wade, triggering conservative states across the country to either ban or severely restrict the procedure. How the dispute over medication abortion is ultimately resolved could make it more difficult for women to obtain abortion, even in the states that still allow it.”

The plaintiffs’ goal is to end access to medication abortion nationwide.

It is expected that this case will ultimately return to the US Supreme Court for a decision.

THE COMSTOCK LAW
Anti-choice extremists are seeking to use the 1873 Comstock Law to block the distribution of medication abortion through the mail.  Passed at a time that America was obsessed with a puritanical morality, the long-dormant Comstock Law forbade the mailing of pornography, obscene literature, contraceptives and abortifacients. Women’s advocacy organizations have been seeking the repeal of this law for years.

In Texas, on April 7, 2023, US District Judge Kacsmaryk resurrected the 150-year-old Comstock Law when deciding to outlaw mifepristone. If it is allowed to stay on the books, the impact could be devastating. Imagine if the Comstock Law is used to prohibit the mailing of medication abortion pills. Hundreds of thousands of women in states where abortion access is extremely limited and/or who live in rural areas will not have access to abortion care.

It won’t matter what governor is stockpiling pills. We won’t be able to distribute them. These decisions directly impact New York State.

NORTH CAROLINA
Abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy will be banned in North Carolina as of July 1, 2023.

On May 4th, the legislation sped through Republican-controlled legislature, along a party-line vote. The Democratic Governor vetoed it, and, on May 16th, the GOP legislature overrode his veto.

South Carolina is, the last safe haven in the southeast, moving closer to a near total abortion ban.

The Take-Away – JUDGES MATTER – VOTING MATTERS
Every year you vote for candidates for Family, County, and Supreme Court, along with candidates for other offices. It is important to remember that just because a candidate adds a “D” after their name does not mean they are “pro-choice”.

Learn as much as you can. All candidates, including judges, try to move up the ladder to higher office. Every candidate and every office matters.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: SCOTUS & Medication Abortion

IMPORTANT UPDATE: SCOTUS & Medication Abortion

Yesterday the US Supreme Court decided to stay a ruling to restrict mifepristone, leaving access and legal standing UNCHANGED for now.
This is a “stay,” not a “decision.” Medication abortion is still in jeopardy. This case is certain to come back to the Supreme Court.
And there are already new lawsuits heading toward the Supreme Court challenging abortion protections, even in states—including New York—where abortion is currently legal.
Anti-choice extremists didn’t stop with Roe, and they won’t stop here. Will you help Choice Matters fight back—for medication abortion rights and all the other reproductive rights that are now under threat?
They will keep going until they have secured a national abortion ban, and the threat to abortion goes far beyond this case alone. We cannot wait until 2024 to take action.
This is the same Supreme Court that struck down Roe in 2022. Two justices, Thomas and Alito, have already shown how they would rule in their dissenting opinion yesterday.
That’s why we’re moving forward, fighting back at every level of government.
Will you help with an emergency donation to help combat anti-abortion disinformation and save access to the abortion pill mifepristone?
PLEASE KNOW OUR WORK NEVER STOPS!
This week, Choice Matters had a huge win in Albany. While we were all focused on the Supreme Court, we were also keeping our eye on SUNY and CUNY students.Several years ago, Choice Matters pledged to make medication abortion available on college campuses throughout the state—and this week that promise got a lot closer to being a reality. A bill passed in both the NYS Senate and Assembly requiring medication abortion to be accessible to all students on SUNY and CUNY campuses. We now look to the Governor to sign this into law!
Starting Friday – Medication Abortion Banned in New York

Starting Friday – Medication Abortion Banned in New York

IN JUST 5 DAYS, MEDICATION ABORTION WILL BE ILLEGAL IN NEW YORK STATE

Last Friday, one single federal court judge in Texas blocked access to medication abortion for all women. He decided in favor of an extremist anti-choice group and against the FDA and millions of women across the country. This Trump appointee outlawed the use of medication abortion’s key drug, mifepristone. This ban is scheduled to go into effect on April 14th. He made his decision on trumped up claims that have no foundation in medicine. Mifepristone was approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago. It is safe.

Within hours, another ruling came out – this time from a federal judge in Washington State. This ruling basically stated that mifepristone is safe and that the FDA should continue its distribution as is – BUT it only applies to the 17 states that joined the case. New York is NOT one of those states. 

Regardless of these warring decisions, on Friday, April 14th, medication abortion – which makes up 53% of all abortions in the United States – will be illegal in New York. Only a stay from the ultra conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals could stop this. This may find its way to the US Supreme Court.

This means that, starting Friday, everyone seeking abortion care in New York (and New Jersey) will need to have a medical procedure, rather than the process known as medication abortion facilitated by taking 2 pills up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.

The only real recourse is to elect a pro–choice trifecta in 2024 – which means taking the majority in the House of Representatives and Senate, and keeping a pro–choice president in the White House.
 
We need to stop relying on a broken court system, and instead pass abortion rights into law nationally. Help us elect pro–choice leaders to Congress.

Invest in our future with a donation to Choice Matters NOW.

Help us take control away from extremist judges by electing pro–choice candidates to Congress who will pass the laws we need.