We Support You, Cecilia Fire Thunder
- by: Valerie Solar
- recipient: Cecilia Fire Thunder, President, Oglala Sioux Tribe
A petition of support to Cecilia Fire Thunder, President of Oglala Sioux Tribe, for her efforts to establish a women's health care clinic in South Dakota on sovereign native land.
Cecilia Fire Thunder, the first female president of the Oglala Sioux of South Dakota has recently made a courageous stand in the face of repressive laws that criminalize every woman's right to a choice in her reproductive future. Despite the fact that Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land, South Dakota legislature has criminalized abortion within its borders punishing providers with excessive fines and/or jail time. This law, HB 1215 "South Dakota Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act" states that life begins at conception and makes no exception for women who become pregnant as the result of rape or incest.
The purpose of this petition is to show President Fire Thunder that her cause resonates with men and women around this country and that we support her. This petition will also be forwarded to S. Dakota Senators Tim Johnson (D) who has publicly come out against this bill, John R. Thume (R) who has made no statement (although his previous statements indicate that he would fully support this ban) and Representative Stephanie Herseth (D) who has made no statement. We want to let those that represent S. Dakota that the nation is watching them!
