Vol. 73/No. 48      December 14, 2009

Organized by the Pro-Choice Action Collective, the demonstration was part of an ongoing campaign to demand that all charges be dropped against Tegan Leach and her partner Sergie Brennan. The couple was charged under sections of the Queensland criminal code dating from 1899 that cover “illegal” abortions.

Leach had an abortion using RU486 and Misoprostol obtained from Brennan’s relatives in Ukraine. Brennan has been charged with helping to import the drugs.

If convicted, Leach faces a maximum seven years in jail and Brennan up to three years. A trial date has not been set.

Kathy Newnam addressed the rally for the Pro-Choice Action Collective. She declared that Leach and Brennan are not on their own and pledged the group’s help in fighting these charges. Explaining that the case has now been referred to the Queensland Department of Public Prosecution, Newnam said that state prosecutors can still decide to drop the charges.

Speaking of Queensland State premier Anna Bligh’s refusal to condemn this attack on abortion rights, Newnam said, “When you are dependent on the political system you are dancing to someone else’s tune. We only need to look at history. The only way we’ve ever got justice is by fighting.” She shouted to applause, “Drop the charges! Repeal antiabortion laws! Abortion rights now!”

Lana Woolf from the University of Queensland (UQ) Women’s Collective said in describing Bligh, “Under your leadership a woman is facing seven years in prison for having an abortion! We are for the right of women to have an abortion without being charged as a criminal!” Bligh was a young feminist activist when she attended UQ.

Several young women along the march route took leaflets and joined in. Others on the footpath applauded as the marchers passed. At the end marchers hung coat hangers on the fence of the Queensland State Parliament House pledging, “Never again!” referring to the days of illegal backstreet abortions.

Organizers of the march announced that a peaceful picket will take place December 2 outside the Eras Bistro in South Brisbane where Premier Bligh is scheduled to speak. The dates for a national meeting of abortion rights activists were set for the February 6-7 weekend in Sydney. Pro-Choice Action Collective members discussed being ready to respond to any surprise moves on the case by the Queensland government.  
 
 
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