What She Wants is...
... a monthly news journal produced for all women. There is no subject unsuitable for our readers and therefore you will find articles on every topic from poetry to politics in each issue. .. equal rights and civil rights
...the right to decent health care and health information
the right to control our bodies
... the right to support ourselves and our families
... the right to oppose war
the right to organize in unions and coalitions to advance our cause
... the right to excellence in education and freedom from prejudice in learning materials
... the right to accept or to reject motherhood
We are...
Laurel Brummet, S. J. Caldwell, Laurie Campbell, Jane Darrah, Marian Dorn, Pat Flanagan, Linda Freeman, Kathy Greenberg, Nancy Handley, Sandy Handley, Rita Hawkins, Barbara Holden, Meredith Holmes, Gail Hopkins, Gaila Klimas, Sheri Pawski, Barb Reusch, Valerie Robinson, Linda Rothacker, Karal Stern, Mary Waxman, Jackie Wessel, Helen Williams
What She Wants has open meetings, and any women interested in feminist newspaper work are welcome to attend. The response to our paper has been exciting and we really need to have more people working on it. All of us in the WSW collective have other jobs or go to school, and we put the paper out on our own time. Not only do we need writers and people to sell the paper, we need people to write us letters and give us feedback. We usually meet on Saturday afternoons. Write to us at
P.O. Box 18072
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
"Mother, what is a Feminist?” "A Feminist, my daughter,
Is any woman now who cares
To think about her own affairs
As men don't think she oughter.”
All Over Mester, loss
Little Justice
A North Carolina woman may be sentenced to death for defending herself against a man who tried
to rape her. The ironic story of Joanne Little has been said to be one of the most outrageous examples of injustice against women.
Early in the morning on August 27, 1974, Joanne was sleeping in a cell at Beaufort County jail where she was awaiting the action on her appeal of a breaking and entering conviction. Joanne, a 20 year old black woman, was the only person in the cell block. She was guarded that night by Clarence Alligood, a 62 year old farmer and a white male as were all Joanne's guards.
Alligood entered Joanne's cell with an icepick and began his sexual attack. Joanne, who is said to be a very small and quiet woman, fought Alligood with all her strength and stabbed him several times during the struggle. Joanne then fled the jail.
Alligood was found dead that morning, slumped over near the foot of the cell cot according to Dr. Harry M. Carpenter, the Beaufort County medical examiner. In his autopsy report Carpenter also stated, 'His shoes were in the corridor, his socks were on his feet. He was otherwise naked from the waist down. In one hand the jailer held his trousers and in the other he clutched the icepick. Beneath the body was a woman's kerchief.' Extending from the penis to his thigh was a string of what appeared to be seminal fluid and the urethral fluid was loaded with spermatozoa. Joanne's nightgown was found on the cell floor.
The police searched for Joanne who hid in the shack of a stranger who agreed to give her sanctuary. A policeman who questioned the stranger sat on a bed under which Joanne was hiding and nearly suffocated her. After a series of narrow escapes Joanne, afraid the police would kill her, decided to give herself up. Attorney Jerry Paul ensured her safe surrender to the State Bureau of Investigation. Joanne turned herself in just as efforts were being made to declare her an outlaw. North Carolina remains the only state in the union with such a procedure which amounts to an instant sentence of death because anyone may shoot an outlaw on sight.
So far several things have already worked against Joanne Little's right to a fair trial: 1. Local North Carolina newspapers at first failed to inform their readers of the condition in which Alligood was found and of the evidence of sexual activity, Editorials have also praised Alligood for 'dying in the line of duty'.
2. The state medical examiner, who was prepared to support Joanne's story was not allowed to testify before the grand jury which indicted her.
3. Joanne is being tried in Beaufort County, the jury will be selected from neighboring counties. Few black people are called to serve on juries and in this region many white people hold the worst kind of prejudices against black women,
4. The state has refused to provide Joanne with the money requested to hire a crimonologist to investigate the case. A crímonologist would cost thousands of dollars which Joanne does not have and could provide testimony crucial to the outcome of Joanne's trial.
5. Vital evidence such as the jailer's clothing, has been scattered among various law enforcement agencies, making it difficult for defense attorneys to locate and have this evidence examined. Requests that the evidence be kept safely in one place have been denied.
Joanne Little, with attorney Jerry Paul, surrenders to North Carolina Authorities.
In the state of North Carolina the mandatory sentence for a person convicted of first degree murder is death. The life of Joanne Little is at stake. The right of all women to defend themselves against sexual attack is at stake. What is happening to Joanne Little could happen to any woman and hers is only one case of many in which women have been tried for assaulting their attackers. Nationwide support is being sought for the defense of Joanne Little. Support may be sent to: Joanne Little Defense Fund P.O. Box 1003
I may be down today
But I am somebody!
may be considered the lowest
on earth; but I am somebody!
I can't and won't allow myself
to sit in solitude and dismay,cause
I am somebody!
I grew up in low rent housing,
sometimes lived in the slums;
But I am still somebody!
I got with 'bed company begging nealing for what I thought was right. That didn't make me any · I am still somebody!
I read an article where a black youth
Durham, North Carolina 27702
jailed, he stole some food, but got 15 20 years -He was somebody!
I killed a white in 'self defense®
but the jury doesn't care -and when
he came for me to prepare trial --
he said she deserves the chair --
Every hurt and pain I feel inside, Everytime I pick up the moming news only to see my name on the front page -I begin to wonder; they make me feel less than somebody.
But in the and I will have freedom and peace of mind. I will do anything to help prove my innocence. Because of one important fact above all
'I am somebody ľ
...
Joanne Little
page 2/What She Wants/March, 1975