Letter from Mariam Claren
Dear comrades,
I am writing to express my deepest condolences for the loss of Carol Downer. Carol was an extraordinary and progressive figure whose life was dedicated to our shared struggles for justice and equality. I will never forget the pivotal role she played in the campaign to free political prisoners. Her tireless dedication and remarkable contributions were instrumental in the success of this vital effort. Carol’s work inspired so many, and her unwavering commitment to justice will forever remain a source of strength for all of us who carry on this fight. She will be deeply missed by everyone whose lives she touched. Carol's legacy is a testament to the power of conviction and compassion, and her absence leaves a void that will be profoundly felt. But we will honor her memory by continuing her fight and ensuring her vision for a better world lives on. The world needs more people like Carol Downer—bold, fearless, and endlessly dedicated to the cause of justice. Please know that my thoughts are with you and everyone mourning this tremendous loss.
In solidarity,
Mariam
Letter from Kave Milani, Burn The Cage/Free the Birds
The world has lost a remarkable revolutionary, An internationalist activist, and feminist pioneer with the passing of Carol Downer, whose impact on women's health and international solidarity created ripples that continue to transform lives across continents.
Carol Downer, born in 1933 in Oklahoma, dedicated her life to women's liberation and reproductive rights. As a founder of the Feminist Women's Health Center in Los Angeles in 1971, she revolutionized women's healthcare by teaching women about their bodies and reproductive rights at a time when such knowledge was heavily restricted.
Her commitment to justice extended far beyond the US borders. In 1979, Downer demonstrated her internationalist spirit by traveling to Iran as part of a delegation to support Iranian people’s struggle against the Shah’s regime and standing firmly against U.S. imperialism and supporting Iranian people's right to self-determination. Her work with Iranian political prisoners and continued advocacy for their rights showed that her vision of liberation knew no borders. Her dedication to the Iranian people's struggle for freedom never wavered. As one of the founders of the International Emergency Campaign to Free Iran's Political Prisoners Now (IEC), she worked tirelessly to amplify the voices of political prisoners in Iran, bringing their plight to international attention. The people of Iran and the world have truly lost a steadfast friend and ally in their fight for justice.
We at the "Burn the Cage, Free the Birds" campaign deeply feel the loss of Carol. Her absence is not just a personal void but a profound common loss. Carol's legacy is indeed substantial—her foundational work in women's health, her pioneering self-help methods, and her fearless legal advocacy are monumental.
Her involvement in the IEC was more than just support; it was a testament to her life's work and beliefs. Carol stood as a steadfast friend to the people of Iran and to all those around the world fighting against oppressive systems. Her dedication to this cause enriched her already significant legacy, making her loss even more deeply felt for those who shared her vision of a world without borders.
Let us honor her memory by intensifying our struggle against worldwide oppressive systems everywhere. Her life exemplified that death is inevitable but it is important how and for what one lives her/his life. The impact of her life lived in service to human emancipation will be felt for very long. In her passing, we are reminded that the greatest tribute we can pay to revolutionary pioneers is to continue their work with the same unwavering commitment to justice and liberation that defined their lives..
Kave Milani
“Burn the Cage, Free the Birds”
Message from Maryam Jazayeri
Dear Dolly, We will miss Carol very much. She was an inspiring fighter for humanity and I will always remember her sincere and touching praise for New Synthesis of Communism and BA. 💕 Maryam Jazayeri
Tribute to Carol by Osyan/Rebel
Posted on IG on January 18, 2025, by OSYAN/Rebel, a group of Iranian and Afghan women
Carol Downer died five days ago at the age of ninety-one. She was an American feminist lawyer and nonfiction writer who focused her career on abortion rights and women’s health worldwide. She was involved in the creation of the self-help movement and the first self-help clinic for vaginal health testing and abortion clinics in Los Angeles, which later became a model and inspiration for dozens of self-help clinics across the United States. They invented a device that could perform abortions much better, less painfully, and less dangerously for women. Their clinic had donated the advanced device to the Women’s Struggle Society in Iran, which was destroyed in an attack by Islamic fundamentalists on the headquarters of the Women’s Struggle Society (Women’s Struggle magazine) and the office of one of the women’s activists in August 1980. Carol Downer began her political activism in the 1960s and joined the women’s movement in 1969. In 1972, police raided Downer’s health clinic and arrested her and Colin Wilson for practicing medicine without a proper license. Downer was later acquitted of all charges.
Within 50 days of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling, which ruled that women had the right to terminate unwanted pregnancies, her group opened “Women’s Choice” clinics in Los Angeles and Orange County. Over the next two years, other feminist women’s health centers were established, part of the Federation of Feminist Women’s Health Centers. But during the Reagan administration, the anti-abortion movement grew, and the clinics faced attacks. “The worst was in 1985, when the clinic burned down, but we didn’t give up,” Downer said. Many believe the fire was started by protesters. So the women started mobile clinics based in vans that provided screenings in a safe and secure location.
From 1987 to 1991, Downer attended law school. Since then, she has practiced law, mostly in the area of disability rights. In 1981, she was editor of the journal A New View of a Woman’s Body.
Carol came to Iran at the height of the 1979 revolution and participated in the Iranian protests against the Shah and against the United States, and in the movement to send the Shah back to Iran for trial. She also contributed greatly to the Iranian women's movement and supported Iranian women, especially political prisoners in Iran, until her death. Carol Downer's work and life are an inspiration to many. She was an international feminist who truly fought for the freedom of women everywhere. May her memory be cherished.
