NARAL Pro-Choice America

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NARAL Pro-Choice America
File:Http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/en/d/dd/NARAL logo.png
Website http://www.naral.org/
Legal status 501(c)(3)
Founded 1969, by Betty Friedan
Headquarters 1156 15th Street, NW Suite 700
Washington , D.C.
United States

NARAL-Pro Choice America was founded in 1973 after the ruling in the Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade which ensured the right to privacy and also legitimized the right to choose an abortion. Ever since the decision was made nearly forty years ago the NARAL has been ensuring the right for women to have an abortion all across the country. NARAL stands for National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws.

History

The NARAL Pro-Choice America stands for the National Abortion Rights Action League.It had its early beginnings in the civil rights movements of the 1960's.After the Supreme court ruled that the constitution protected a persons right to privacy in the Supreme court case of Griswold v.Connecticut. The interest group was founded in 1969, at this time the interest group operated under a different name of National Association of the Repeal of Abortion Laws. After this decision was made and the interest group was founded it did not take long for this interest group to have a impact on congressional legislation. In 1973 the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case of Roe v. Wade that the right to an abortion is protect under the constitution in that every person under the constitution has the right to privacy. This was a monumental win for the NARAL and for woman's rights all across the country. This win also established the NARAL as an interest group that was able to be very influential. In 1975 the NARAL changes its name to the National Abortion Rights Action League.

Founding

The NARAL is largely funded between contributions from local citizens and corporations. According to Charity NAvigator"Its 2007 total revenue was around six million dollars."[1] Its expenses for the year were around four million dollars and the interest group had excess of one million dollars in 2007. It continues to grow and is always looking for new members and donors.

Current objectives and activities

The mission statement of the NARAL Pro-Choice America is "to develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion."[2]

Organizational structure

The NARAL Pro-Choice America has over 25 different state affliates located throughout the country. The main office is located in Washington D.C. and has all state affliates send delegates to the Washington offices to discuss issues. All contact information for the 25 different state affliates is located on the main NARAL Pro-Choice America website.

Achievements

The NARAL Pro-Choice America has had many achievements during its prestigious history. The first major accomplishment of the NARAL was,"Efforts by NARAL and other pro-choice organizations generate more pro-choice mail to Congress than ever before to oppose the Hyde Amendment."[3]

The NARAL has continued to fight for the reproductive rights of womem throughout the country and continue to do so this day. In 2004, "NARAL Pro-Choice America cosponsor[ed\ and helps organize the March for Women's Lives. With more than a million participants, the March is the largest demonstration of any kind in American history."[4] The NARAL Pro-Choice America will continue to grow and strive for women's reproductive rights.

Public perception and controversies

The American public has always had mixed feelings on abortion and the different types of laws that entail with it. It is fair to say that around half the country is pro choice while the other have if pro life. A recent tactic that the NARAL has deployed is deciding to call the people who are pro life anti-choice. This has had some effect in stereotyping people as anti-choice which also correlates with being anti freedom. This has caused a larger divide between the two groups within recent years.

References

  1. CharityNavigator
  2. "NARAL mission statement." Interest group NARAL. 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2009 from http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/about-us/learn-about-us/mission.html
  3. NARAL website
  4. NARAL website