SD – making money despite anti-woman abortion bill

When South Dakota's legislature passed – and Governor Mike Rounds signed – the most restrictive abortion law in the country, making abortion illegal in every instance, with no exception for rape or incest victims, I, among others, called for a boycott of South Dakota products and events, (see Calling All Bikers) especially the state's biggest money-maker: the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

In researching, I discovered that a great many motorcycle groups are also calling for a boycott of the Rally, but for a different reason. Bikers took exception – and rightfully so – to the sentence handed down to Bill Janklow after he struck and killed a motorcyclist.

From the Rapid City Journal:

Most recently, some motorcycle groups vowed to boycott the Sturgis motorcycle rally to protest what they believed was a light sentence for Rep. Bill Janklow’s manslaughter conviction. He served 100 days in jail for killing a motorcyclist in an auto accident. [emphasis mine]

Unfortunately, there has been no concerted effort by any of these groups. There are lots of notices to boycott, but no national effort.

This morning, I read the following on MSNBC.com:

From Billboard:

The biggest motorcycle enthusiast gathering in the United States is turning up the volume. Producers are creating a music festival around the massive 66th annual Black Hills Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, S.D., with a lineup that includes Sammy Hagar, Big & Rich, Keith Urban and the Black Crowes.

[snip]

Capacity will be as high as 60,000 at the venue, and the talent lineup for the festival is strong. With a $3 million talent budget, the acts booked include Sammy Hagar, Big & Rich, Keith Urban, Steve Miller, Cheap Trick, Steppenwolf, Fabulous Thunderbirds, REO Speedwagon, 38 Special, Foghat, Georgia Satellites, Greg Rollie, Shooter Jennings, Live, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Nickelback and the Black Crowes.

I suggest contacting each of these acts listed, and asking them if they support a state's right to interfere in the personal medical decisions of its citizens. Do they support a state that tells rape and incest victims they must carry to term the product of those crimes?

Do they believe that 100 days in jail is a suitable punishment for hitting and killing a motorcyclist?

Clicking on each linked name will take you to either their contact page, or that of their labels or their reps. Please take a moment to send an email and ask these acts not to support the state of South Dakota, and to join the boycott of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

(If anyone has, or finds, the contact info for the other acts, please add them in the comments, and I'll update.)

Note: The Big & Rich link goes to their MySpace site. Unfortunately, you have to join MySpace (it's free) to leave a comment.

Also, check out Action Alerts.

From DailyKos in February:

I made a phone call to the Department of Tourism last week and encourage others to call and email!

Department of Tourism and State Development 711 East Wells Avenue Pierre, SD 57501-3369 (605) 773-3256, fax

Economic Development (605) 773-5032, phone www.sdgreatprofits.com

Tourism (605) 773-3301, phone www.TravelSD.com

South Dakota Arts Council 800 Governor's Drive Pierre, SD 57501-2294 (605) 773-3131, phone www.state.sd.us/deca/sdarts/

State Historical Society 900 Governor's Drive Pierre, SD 57501-2217 (605) 773-3458, phone www.sdhistory.org