Although abortions are legal now, they are becoming less available. We can look at what is happening to make them so. As a part of this, we will watch parts of “The assassination of Dr. Tiller”, a documentary examining the forces behind the murder of one of the US’s best-known abortion providers. Includes formerly unreleased interviews from Dr. Tiller as well as new interviews with well known anti-abortion activists. The documentary looks at the crime, and goes back to tell the story of the two men and what led up to the murder. We'll talk about other factors affecting abortion clinics.

Event date: Thursday, Feb 3 at 7pm.

Contact: president@raleighnow.org

This is a call for more respectful public discourse and public safety.

I believe some people will do crazy things regardless, but many more people start thinking rude and crazy actions are acceptable when they hear them repeatedly and from people they trust.

One figure that some people trust is Sarah Palin, and she shares her views on TV, the internet and at speaking engagements. I find it shocking that Palin defends the controversial target list map from her Facebook page -- the one that was posted back in March and features crosshairs all over a map ... with the name of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, among others. Who in the world marks a map with crosshairs!! I am shocked and appalled that Sarah Palin will not or cannot recognize that her political rhetoric may invoke violence, when she uses crosshairs on her maps highlighting political targets and says things like "Don't retreat. Reload”. She is not the only one advocating violence and some groups explicitly advocate murder and target doctors.

I also think there is no excuse for semi automatic weapons for civilians. If a person can't hit a target with a rifle, they must be incredibly dangerous with a semi-automatic. Also there is an obvious danger to police personnel, not to mention government officials, estranged spouses, and anyone unfortunate enough to be in the way.

Please consider the dangers implicit with semi-automatic weapons and hate speech that incites violence and murder, and act to encourage laws to curtail both.

Martin Luther King March – Monday, Jan 17 – Meet at 10:45 on Edenton Street side of the State Capitol Building in downtown Raleigh. This is the 31st annual Memorial March. Raleigh NOW always participates. Join us for coffee or for lunch afterward.

Get your name in the pro-choice Signature Ad or to make a donation. See the 12/19/10 entry below. The final deadline for names is Jan 12, 2011.

To Buy the Sun: The Challenge of Pauli Murray - Come to the play with our group or see it on your own. Contact president@raleighnow.org to go with us.

Celebrate Pauli Murray's history. Join us as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of Pauli Murray's birth with a new play that explores the life and legacy of one of North Carolina's own. See more at www.paulimurrayproject.org

Performance dates are
January 28-30, 2011 Hayti Heritage Center, www.hayti.org
February 4-5, 2011 Carrboro Arts Center, www.artscenterlive.org

Wake County Women's Agenda Assembly - Saturday Jan 29, at 9:30am. Go to http://wakewaa.wordpress.com/ for information or to register.

Roe v Wade event - Where have all the clinics gone? Thursday, Feb 3 at 7pm.

If you are interested in these and other events, please contact president@raleighnow.org.