NEA lends its support to pro-choice rally

The national umbrella group of the Utah Education Association is supporting a pro-choice rally in Washington, D.C., this weekend.

The National Education Association's support of the March for Women's Lives has rankled some Utahns.

"This march is further proof of the UEA's true agenda," said Elisa Clements Peterson of Parents for Choice in Education, which has butted heads with the union over tuition tax credits. "The UEA is a liberal, pro-abortion organization that is more concerned with 'reproductive freedom' than the needs of Utah's children, teachers and parents. The UEA should condemn NEA involvement in this event and separate itself from this agenda."

Few teachers have contacted UEA offices with questions or complaints, UEA President Pat Rusk said. She has not heard of any Utah teachers planning to attend the march.

"UEA is in no way participating in this rally," Rusk said. "People are trying to make UEA look bad . . . when it has nothing to do with UEA."

The March for Women's Lives, aimed at upholding "choice, justice, access, health, abortion, global and family planning," is scheduled Sunday at the National Mall, states the Web site, www.marchforwomen.org.

The march is organized by seven national groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

The NEA is listed, along with 1,100 other groups, as supporting the march, NEA spokesman Michael Pons said from his Washington, D.C., office.

"We're not a sponsor, in the sense we did not provide for the logistics at the march," Pons said. "March coordinators contacted the NEA, asked if they could put NEA down as a supporter of the event, and we said yes."

The NEA also plans to open its headquarters, located near the parade route, to members as a gathering place.

People also are expected to gather in protest of the march, Rusk said. "If they are NEA members, they will be welcome to use the building as well."

The 2.7 million-member NEA is viewed by leaders here as an umbrella organization for all teachers with varying political views.

NEA has a resolution supporting "family planning, including the right to reproductive freedom." Also, said Pons, the NEA opposes federal legislation to curtail current laws on reproductive freedom — an apparent reason for the march.