Who Founded The Pro-Choice Movement?

The National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL) was founded in 1969 to challenge legal restrictions on abortion. The organisation was established at the First National Conference on Abortion Laws: Modification or Repeal conference held in Chicago. NARAL was the first national group created solely to campaign for the legalization of abortion, marking the start of direct action to repeal abortion bans. An early form of the organisation was set up by abortion-rights activists including Betty Friedan, with the goal of consolidating and strengthening the efforts of state abortion-rights groups.

The National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws was founded in 1969

The National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL) was founded in 1969 to challenge legal restrictions on abortion. NARAL was established at the "First National Conference on Abortion Laws: Modification or Repeal?" held in Chicago from February 14–16, 1969. The conference was sponsored by 21 organizations and attended by 350 people, including key speakers such as obstetrician/gynecologist Bernard Nathanson, journalist Lawrence Lader, and women's rights advocate Betty Friedan.

The formation of NARAL marked a significant shift in the abortion rights movement in the United States. Prior to 1969, abortion-rights activists had been working at the state level to challenge restrictive abortion laws. The founding of NARAL represented the first national effort to consolidate and strengthen these state-level activities under the umbrella of a single, unified organization. This marked the beginning of a more centralized and coordinated approach to abortion rights advocacy.

The early leaders of NARAL included prominent figures in the abortion rights movement, such as Betty Friedan, Lawrence Lader, and Ruth Proskauer Smith. A 12-person Planning Committee was elected at the conference to oversee NARAL's formation and define its purpose and program. The committee held its first official meeting in New York on February 25, 1969, and hired Lee Gidding as the first Executive Director.

One of the key goals of NARAL was to lobby for the repeal of abortion laws and to ensure safe and legal access to abortion for all women. In its early years, NARAL orchestrated lobbying efforts and organized grassroots demonstrations at the state level. This advocacy work laid the groundwork for the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade in 1973, which secured women's right to abortion and prompted NARAL to shift its focus to the federal level.

NARAL has undergone several name changes since its founding, reflecting the evolving nature of the abortion rights movement and the organization's expanding scope. In 1973, following the Roe v. Wade ruling, NARAL changed its name to the National Abortion Rights Action League. This name change signified the organization's new focus on protecting and ensuring the right to abortion, rather than solely advocating for the repeal of abortion laws.

The organisation's precursor was the Association to Repeal Abortion Laws

The National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL) was founded in 1969 to challenge legal restrictions on abortion. Its precursor was the Association to Repeal Abortion Laws (ARAL), which was an expansion of the "Army of Three", a group of abortion rights activists Pat Maginnis, Rowena Gurner, and financial investor Lana Phelan.

ARAL organised and distributed referral lists of people performing illegal abortions and held classes on do-it-yourself abortions in California. NARAL was established at the "First National Conference on Abortion Laws: Modification or Repeal?" held on February 14–16, 1969, in Chicago. Its formation was announced on the front page of The New York Times. The conference was sponsored by 21 organisations and attended by 350 people, including key speakers such as obstetrician/gynecologist Bernard Nathanson, journalist Lawrence Lader, and women's rights advocate Betty Friedan.

The conference was split between those favouring abortion law "reform" and those favouring "repeal". The more conservative reform position would have involved liberalising existing abortion law by allowing abortion to preserve the physical or mental health of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest. The more radical repeal position, led by Friedan and Conni Bille, favoured "ad libitum" abortion rights at the discretion of the mother. The conference voted to adopt the repeal position.

NARAL was the first national group created solely to campaign for the legalization of abortion, marking the start of direct action to repeal abortion bans. It was founded by a group of abortion-rights activists, including Friedan, and its goal was to consolidate and strengthen the efforts of state abortion-rights groups under the aegis of the first national pro-choice organisation. In its early years, NARAL orchestrated lobbying efforts in states and organised grassroots demonstrations.

In 1973, after existing abortion laws were successfully challenged on constitutional grounds, NARAL's name was changed to the National Abortion Rights Action League, and its purpose became the assurance of the "right to a safe, legal abortion for all women".

The National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws became the National Abortion Rights Action League in 1973

The National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL) was founded in 1969 to challenge legal restrictions on abortion. NARAL was the first national group created solely to campaign for the legalization of abortion, marking the start of direct action to repeal abortion bans. An early form of the organization was established when a group of abortion-rights activists, including Betty Friedan, founded the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws. The goal of the organization was to consolidate and strengthen the efforts of state abortion-rights groups under the aegis of the first national pro-choice organization.

In its early years, NARAL orchestrated lobbying efforts in states and organized grassroots demonstrations. In 1973, with the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling, securing women's right to have abortions, the organization adopted a new name, the National Abortion Rights Action League, and concentrated on identifying allies in the federal government. The National Abortion Rights Action League's purpose became the assurance of the "right to a safe, legal abortion for all women".

NARAL's name change reflected the Court's repeal of restrictive laws, and its new focus on federal politics. The organization's shift in strategy was a response to the changing legal landscape, moving from a focus on state-level activism to engaging with the federal government to protect abortion rights. This change also reflected the increasing polarization around abortion, with NARAL positioning itself as a staunch advocate for abortion access.

NARAL's work in the early 1970s was instrumental in challenging existing abortion laws on constitutional grounds, and its efforts helped lay the groundwork for the Roe v. Wade decision. The National Abortion Rights Action League continued to advocate for abortion rights and played a crucial role in shaping the political and legal landscape around abortion in the United States.

The organisation changed its name to NARAL Pro-Choice America in 2003

The National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL) was founded in 1969 to challenge legal restrictions on abortion. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a nationwide effort was underway to reform abortion laws in nearly every state. In 1973, after existing abortion laws were successfully challenged on constitutional grounds, NARAL changed its name to the National Abortion Rights Action League. Its purpose became the assurance of the "right to a safe, legal abortion for all women".

In 2003, the organisation changed its name to NARAL Pro-Choice America. This was not the first time the organisation had changed its name. In fact, it had already changed its name once before, in 1973, when it became the National Abortion Rights Action League. The decision to change the name again in 2003 was made to drop the long form name in favour of something more snappy and memorable. This was also done to make abortion a key issue in the 2004 elections.

NARAL Pro-Choice America is the oldest abortion rights advocacy group in the United States. It consists of three related entities: NARAL Pro-Choice America, Inc., a non-profit organisation that focuses on defending abortion rights and making abortions less necessary; NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC, a registered political action committee that backs candidates supporting abortion rights; and the NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, a charitable organisation devoted to educating the public about reproductive freedom.

NARAL has a long history of advocating for abortion rights and access to birth control, parental leave policies, and pregnancy protections. It has helped lead the charge for over 50 years in the fight for these rights and continues to do so today.

In 2023, the organisation changed its name to Reproductive Freedom for All

The National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL) was founded in 1969 to challenge legal restrictions on abortion. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a nationwide effort was underway to reform abortion laws in almost every state. An early form of the organisation was established when a group of abortion-rights activists, including Betty Friedan, founded the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws. This was an expansion of the "Army of Three", which consisted of abortion rights activists Pat Maginnis, Rowena Gurner, and financial investor Lana Phelan.

NARAL was the first national group created solely to campaign for the legalisation of abortion, marking the start of direct action to repeal abortion bans. In 1973, after existing abortion laws were successfully challenged on constitutional grounds, NARAL's name was changed to the National Abortion Rights Action League, and its purpose became the assurance of the "right to a safe, legal abortion for all women".

In 2003, the organisation dropped the long-form name in favour of "NARAL Pro-Choice America". In 2023, one year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade (in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization), NARAL announced that it had changed its name to Reproductive Freedom for All, in keeping with its new emphasis on abortion access as a fundamental freedom.

Reproductive Freedom for All, formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America, is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organisation in the United States that engages in lobbying, political action, and advocacy efforts to oppose restrictions on abortion, to expand access to legal abortion and birth control, and to support paid parental leave and protection against pregnancy discrimination. The organisation has helped lead the charge for over 50 years in the fight for abortion rights, access to birth control, parental leave policies, and pregnancy protections.

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