Lana Silva

SOC 122 MW 5:30-6:45

http://www.democracynow.org/2016/3/4/the_biggest_abortion_case_in_a

"The Fight to Keep Abortion Safe & Legal" from Democracy Now showed a rally and reactions from activists on both sides about abortion and abortion access. The reason this rally and debate was taking place was because it was happening at just the right time, an example of political opportunity theory. Just inside the building where these rallies were occurring, The Supreme Court was hearing arguments about an important abortion case regarding the laws recently passed in Texas and other states that "force abortion clinics to meet the standards of hospital-style surgery centers and require providers to obtain admitting privileges at a nearby hospital—a task many can't achieve, in part due to anti-choice sentiment." If this historical case was not simultaneously going on, it is very unlikely that thousands of people would have still gathered to protest.

Although there were some interviews with "anti-choice" protesters, much of the article focused on personal stories from medical providers and patients. For example, one provider pointed out that even if abortions were made illegal, women would still attempt to have them. She told the story of when she was in medical school and her professors remembered and told her about before there was safe access to abortions when women would suffer major complications or even death from trying to perform abortions on their selves. She ended her speech by chanting, "Abortion is medical, not political!" Another story was from a patient who decided to have her child, but later discovered that her son's brain was severely underdeveloped and was told that she could either carry out the pregnancy or terminate it because it was "100% incompatible with life." She wanted to have the procedure performed there with her doctor, but was informed that because of the Texas state laws she would have to go through a multiple day process with Planned Parenthood or another provider, even though the baby did not have a chance at life. This information caused her to become "emotionally distraught and mentally distraught." Because she had the resources, she was able to fly to Florida to have an abortion, but since many other women do not have this option and should not have to result to flying across state borders for access she was raising awareness by sharing her story.

These stories given by patients and medical providers are examples of the movement using framing because they are using personal stories and language in order to get people emotional and join their cause. In addition, they have a clear message, that they want more access to safe legal abortions, and they do not have one spokesperson, with many patients and medical providers speaking from their own personal experiences and varying backgrounds.