Only approximately 15 people met in the Lower Lounge of the William Pitt Union Tuesday night… Only approximately 15 people met in the Lower Lounge of the William Pitt Union Tuesday night for the “Women of Color Leadership Initiative.” Though the group was small, the issues it discussed – women’s reproductive rights and pro-choice views – were much larger.

The presentation, part of Black Women’s Week and co-sponsored by the National Abortion and Reproduction Rights Action League and Pitt’s Black Action Society, focused mainly on the struggles faced by young black women in regard to reproduction and abortion.

Francesca Cantarini, field director of the Western Pennsylvania chapter of NARAL, led the discussion and focused on how black women are disadvantaged when it comes to reproductive rights.

“The system has victimized and marginalized women of color,” she said. “Many communities are not offering the reproductive help they need.”

According to a pamphlet passed out by Cantarini, black women are less likely than white woman to obtain comprehensive reproductive health services, including pap smears and prenatal care.

“We will not have women of color as victims anymore,” she said. “Women of color will not have their rights taken away.”

In addition to touching upon the injustices faced by black women, the issue of how to inform the public about being pro-choice was brought up.

Cantarini admitted that while informing the public about the pro-choice stance is not easy, it can be done. Religious groups are some of the more difficult groups Cantarini wishes to reach. Cantarini mentioned how for years, religious groups have avoided the issue of pro-choice.

“[Religious groups] use religion as a barricade, not a bridge,” she said, referring to why she believes that many religious groups dodge issues of abortion.

Although Cantarini raised many points as to why being pro-choice is beneficial to women, she was quick to clarify one main discrepancy.

“Not everyone who’s pro-choice believes in abortion,” she said, wishing to clarify any confusion.

A few audience members who said they were pro-life praised NARAL’s cause, stating it allowed women to have the freedom to choose between a number of options in reproductive care.

While women were the targeted audience for the discussion, Cantarini pointed out men need to be informed when it comes to abortion and reproductive rights.

“Though it’s a women’s right to choose, men are affected too,” Cantarini said.

Besides the main issues presented during the discussion, a petition was passed around that NARAL hopes to send to Washington, D.C., before the 2004 presidential election. The group hopes to obtain one million signatures by then to support Roe vs. Wade, a major milestone for pro-choice activists. The petition is in response to what Cantarini calls “anti-choice” feelings.

“We’re afraid anti-choice legislature will be passed through the government, overturning Roe v. Wade,” she said.

Near the end of the evening, Cantarini asked the audience to aid NARAL in informing the public.

“We have a lot of work to do, clearly,” she said.