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April 13, 2004

Dear Friends,

On Sunday, April 25, hundreds of thousands of freedom riders will journey to Washington, D.C. to march for freedom of choice.

Yes, we have a Constitution that specifies our freedoms, but our Constitutional rights don't come with a money-back guarantee. You have to pay extra for that.

The price? Eternal vigilance.

Our freedoms are threatened every day. During the 19th century, states passed laws that denied a woman access to safe, clinical abortion.

In January of 1973, in the famous Roe v. Wade case, the Supreme Court declared the Texas law, written in 1854, to be unconstitutional.

From that day to this there are those who have been trying to find ways to deny women access to safe, clinical abortion. It is a very sensitive and often complicated issue. Opponents of a woman's right to choose are often very thoughtful, caring people. Some aren't. But that's not the point.

Next weeks' march will be the largest gathering for reproductive rights in history. It will let politicians know that the overwhelming majority of our citizens support a woman's right to choose.

Organizers of the march refer to 'the war on women,' not only in this country, but around the world. The issue goes deeper than reproductive choice. It touches the central core of freedom.

There are three busses leaving from Temple Israel early Sunday morning, April 25. Some of us would like to be boarding a bus bound for Washington on that Sunday morning, but somebody has to stay home and mind the store. So we're planning a rally of our own, in support of the freedom riders.

Following the second service on the 25th, we will gather here at the church to share some sandwiches and then, at 1 p.m., we will have our own rally to coincide with the time of the events in Washington. We will sing, speak, light candles and offer our prayers to preserve a woman's right to choose.

Freedom is not really free. Our most basic freedoms are threatened every day. I hope you'll choose to be here for our support rally.

Take care.
Frank