Abortion rights are in the news almost every day.  Public attention is drawn, more than ever, to the issues surrounding abortion. This Trilogy puts a human face on this complex subject, and raises awareness about the steady erosion of access to safe, legal reproductive health care for many women, particularly the young, the poor, and those living in rural areas. We hope that you will use these tapes to re-energize, inspire, and organize those who believe in a woman's right to make reproductive choices, and to educate those who may not know the history nor fully understand the implications of the current situation.

PBS and Cable Access stations across the country have been airing this  award-winning trilogy of documentaries about abortion, FROM THE BACK ALLEYS to the SUPREME COURT & BEYOND.  Some stations will show the films in January to celebrate the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, others in March for Women's History month, or possibly next Fall at the beginning of the school year.  A variety of groups are planning gatherings, some with events scheduled in conjunction with the broadcasts.  Others - organizations, university groups, clinics, community groups and individuals - will hold screenings using VHS tapes of the programs, events not connected to the actual broadcasts. Whether viewers encounter FROM THE BACK ALLEYS to the SUPREME COURT & BEYOND on television, in their homes, in a conference room, or at a community center, it is critical that we work together to maximize the impact of this urgent, moving trilogy.

This Resource Kit is designed to help you plan activities before, during and after the airing of the Trilogy.  It includes suggestions for screening venues, media tips, resources, and study guides for each documentary.  It also contains information on how you can support your local Cable Access station's broadcast of these documentaries.

Whether used as organizing tools, as event fundraisers, as informational resources and/or as catalysts to activate grassroots participation, the power of these documentaries is great.  We want to help you plan and orchestrate your efforts as efficiently and effectively as possible.

THIS GUIDE HAS BEEN ORGANIZED -

• To help you get the videos broadcast and/or screened in your community. Our plan is that local Cable Access stations will air the videos throughout the coming year.  Each community will present different challenges.  If there is to be no television broadcast, we provide a variety of support materials, including checklists with which to create a screening in your community using a VCR and TV. A partial broadcast list of stations which aired the videos will be available on our web site soon. 
• To provide support materials to facilitate your getting the documentaries in the Trilogy shown on TV and in other settings. 
• To help you get the word out and involve the community and the local press/media in the screenings. 
• To ensure that your organization receives the maximum benefit from these efforts. 
• To provide additional resources, such as contact information for national organizations which provide a spectrum of services, plus an extensive list of abortion-related web sites.