Table of Contents
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Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids
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| Collection |
| Title: | Abortion Action Coalition records |
| Dates: | 1970-1982 |
| Call Number: | M21 |
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Historical Note
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The Abortion Action Coalition (AAC) was founded in Boston, Massachusetts in the summer of 1977 to actively oppose the Doyle-Flynn anti-abortion amendment. The bill was an attempt to cut state funding for abortions following the national adoption of the Hyde Amendment, which allowed states to restrict Medicaid payments for abortions.
In the fall of 1977, the ad-hoc group decided to establish goals and a formal structure. AAC ran community activities and held discussions and educational meetings. By 1979 the Coalition was reaching out to unions and other community groups to create a wider action network. Members spoke at demonstrations, on talk shows, and to other groups. In 1979 AAC members organized a large rally as part of an International Day of Action. The original focus on abortion rights naturally grew to encompass issues intimately linked to women's rights, including birth control, child care, maternity leave, reproductive rights, and teenage pregnancy.
The Coalition was structured into four committees, all of which were coordinated by an elected steering committee. Most of the work was done by volunteers. The Legislative Liaison Committee acted as a watchdog for legislative and judicial issues and also coordinated efforts with other pro-choice groups. The Community and Labor Outreach Committee was the educational arm of the Coalition. Its function was to provide speakers and information to third world, labor, and community groups, both to help those groups and to link abortion and women's issues to the concerns of these groups. The function of the Health and Hospitals Committee was to learn about abortion policies at these institutions through contacts who worked at them. AAC also gathered information about other services provided (such as day care and family planning) and reached out to people who used the clinics and hospitals. Finally, the Media Committee was responsible for drafting press releases, writing letters or contacting the media, and generally keeping the Coalition's activities publicized. AAC were a member group of the Reproductive Rights National Network (R2N2). The Abortion Action Coalition disbanded in 1980. |
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