Abortion-rights advocates threaten to boycott S.D.

[cal04]

The South Dakota Legislature’s passage of an abortion ban bill prompted an angry reaction from abortion-rights supporters who vowed to boycott the state’s tourism industry. The state Department of Tourism received a dozen e-mails and a number of angry phone calls Friday from abortion-rights supporters who say they will not vacation in South Dakota.

A Madison, Wis.,-based group has formally called for a boycott of South Dakota tourism. In a news release titled “Bypass South Dakota!”, the Women’s Medical Fund urged supporters to steer clear of South Dakota. “All kinds of families visit Mount Rushmore every year. It’s a favorite of Americans and foreign tourists. But we can do without Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, the Badlands and the Corn Palace,” Anne Gaylor, director of the Fund, wrote.

“We are encouraging all groups who care about women’s rights to urge their members to bypass South Dakota.” Billie Jo Waara, head of the state office of tourism, said her office has been hearing from people throughout the country. “They have commented on the fact that the state is a great destination for travel, but our current political situation doesn’t match their agenda,” Waara said.

Waara said she was unsure exactly how many phone calls the Tourism Department has received. She confirmed that the agency got 12 e-mails, a small number compared with the Tourism Office’s daily e-mail traffic. She hasn’t heard of anyone canceling trips that were already planned for South Dakota; the callers and e-mailers are instead saying they won’t make plans to visit the state.

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/02/25/news/top/news02.txt

ACTION ALERT: South Dakota Boycott is working!
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/25/8124/93505

[rodeodance]

1. yeah for Madison WI for doing this.

....A Madison, Wis.,-based group has formally called for a boycott of South Dakota tourism. In a news release titled “Bypass South Dakota!”, the Women’s Medical Fund urged supporters to steer clear of South Dakota. “All kinds of families visit Mount Rushmore every year. It’s a favorite of Americans and foreign tourists. But we can do without Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, the Badlands and the Corn Palace,” Anne Gaylor, director of the Fund, wrote.

[msongs]

2. SD's main industry is credit card/finance companies - - >

check your bills and see if your cards are from an SD company.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/democratsmugs.htm

[Shelor]

3. DU should start a list of S.D.-based businesses to boycott.