Women's Health Action and Mobilization
American activist organization / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Women's Health Action and Mobilization (WHAM!) was an American activist organization based in New York City, established in 1989 in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services that states may bar the use of public money and public facilities for abortions.[1] WHAM! started as the direct action committee of the Reproductive Rights Coalition, but soon broke away to form its own organization.[2]
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WHAM! used direct action tactics such as draping the Statue of Liberty with two protest banners[3] and disrupting the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice David Souter. The first banner on the statue's crown said "No Choice, No Liberty" and the second banner hanging from the pedestal said "Abortion is Healthcare, Healthcare is a right."
In 1989 members of WHAM! and ACT UP took part in a controversial action at Saint Patrick's Cathedral to protest the church's position on homosexuality, safe-sex education and the use of condoms.[4] WHAM! helped to form two additional activist groups, the New York Clinic Defense Task Force and the Church Ladies for Choice.
The organization disbanded between 1994 and 1995.[5]