With Ken Cuccinelli losing the Virginia Governor’s Race yesterday, there was a great sigh of relief among much of the state’s women’s rights advocates.
With Ken Cuccinelli losing the Virginia Governor’s Race yesterday, there was a great sigh of relief among much of the state’s women’s rights advocates. But what will become of one the most specific groups in Virginia’s push against pro-lifers, Cooch Watch.
“It’s almost a physical sensation of relief,” said Muna Hijazi, one of the many volunteers at Cooch Watch. Hijazi has spent the last two years working toward this goal, and with this massive hurdle behind her, she’s pretty excited.
Cooch Watch, which bubbled out of many smaller women’s rights and activist movements around the 2012 Virginia General Assembly which became famous for passing TRAP legislation that restricted access to abortions and forced many women’s health clinics to shudder their doors. But throughout the effort, the group stayed true and abashed in it’s mission, something grass-roots organizing can struggle with.
“We wanted to be one of the few groups out there saying the word “abortion” – de-stigmatize it,” said Hijazi. “The motto a lot of for the pro-choice movement has been “safe, legal, and rare.” Well 33% percent of women have had an abortion, so its not rare.”
This changing of the vernacular was very much part of Cooch Watch’s mission, hoping women would “come out of the dark” when it came to talking about their bodies and their health. “When it came to women’s rights… to not be afraid of these words and not be apologetic when using these words.”
Cooch Watch took their message around the state leading up to yesterday’s election – they did everything from speaking at colleges, to showing up at Cuccinelli fundraising events at people’s private homes – “If you’re going to be fundraising for Cuccinelli We want your neighbors to know about it. Its just as far as the other side goes,” said Hijazi. “By harassing abortion doctors in their homes”
These tactics, their ability to get creative, and their actions at the GA all helped give the group solid ground to stand on. And of course, there was the internet.
So what does yesterday’s victory for Terry McAuliffe mean for the group?
“We have a terribly specific name that has gone along with our very focused mission,” said Hijazi. “It’s been part of our success. But that being said, it wasn’t that we just don’t want Cuccinelli to be governor, we want to see his political ambitions and opportunities decline – this man is not fit to serve office.”
And Cuccinelli isn’t out of the office just yet – It’s still early, but Hijazi hopes the group can come together and organize a kind of fare-well event for the soon to be ex-attorney general.
Maybe a huge line of silent people offering high-fives – mimicking the end of a pee-wee soccer team. “good game… good game…”
And Cooch Watch believes if Mark Obenshain, the Republican candidate who’s win is yet to be confirmed, takes this years election, it will be more of the same.
“We switched attention over to Obenshain leading up to the election, because he’s really just a mini-me version of Cuccinelli,” said Hijazi. And Obenshain’s voting record shows he’s cut from a similar, anti-choice cloth as the current AG.
There is already a Facebook group started, Nobenshane for Attorney General, and Cooch Watch and Hijazi have them on their radar. “I’m not even 100% sure who’s organizing that effort, but Cooch Watch will be happy to help out there.”
The recount for the state’s AG seat wont be possible for a few more weeks, but keep an eye out for Cooch Watch, and consider helping them give Cuccinelli a proper send off.
