WEGI TRIUMPHS IN VISITATION CASE

Wegi Louise has been divorced for six years. One day during a phone conversation with her children, Wegi's ex-husband interrupted them and announced he was cutting off her visitation rights. Roger had already succeeded in attaining custody. Soon after their divorce, he had moved with the children to Nashville in an effort to remove them farther away from Wegi.

Remembering the ugliness of the first custody "fight, Wegi's first reaction was pessimistic. Then it dawned on her that this was 1977; the women's movement and her strength had grown. She was not going to let this slide by.

Since Roger resided in Nashville, the case was heard there. Wegi's first step involved finding a good woman attorney. When she called Nashville

detail of lithograph by Kathe Kollwitz (1867-1945) information, Wegi,could not locate a local NOW chapter. She related her story to the operator, who looked under "W" and "F" for "women" and "feminist". Some resources were found. Wegi also had a list of Nashville women who attended the Houston IWY conference. Through one woman Wegi acquired the name of a strong feminist attorney, Jinx Thomas. Her prestigious firm was located in an old Nashville house that radiated a warin, soothing environment. Roger's attorney, referred to as General Butler, practices law in a glass skyscraper, where the initial confrontation between Wegi Louise and her husband was scheduled. The results of this meeting would decide whether the case would be heard in court.

On the morning of the meeting, Jinx Thomas spent an hour with Wegi and her mother, who had flown to Nashville to give Wegi support. Gen'l Butler's character and methods of operation were described. Jinx also outlined what Wegi could expect and how to play to win with a southern general. The clever attorney demystified the whole process for them. Then Jinx acted on her next strategic move by calling Gen'l Butler to say that her car wasn't working: Could they please meet at her office instead? Responding as a gentleman should, he agreed. Wegi felt that her attorney's female environment strengthened her. Jinx's office walls were loaded with plaques of achievement. She liked the fish tanks.

'The meeting was run essentially as a trial. First came hard questioning, then insulting cross-examin-

ation, followed by attorney caucuses and more questioning. The grounds for complaint were based on questions about Wegi's lifestyle: her communal living; her non-Christian outlook; and whether it was harmful for her two boys to be taken to such events as the Michigan Women's Music Festival.

Wegi had dressed very conservatively for this meeting. In fact, she was afraid she had overdone it, somewhat resembling a prison matron. Gen'l Butler grilled her, hoping to break her down. He accused her of putting her arm around and kissing other women. He said she took her children to a nudist camp (which turned out to be the Music Festival). Thanks to the preparation by Jinx, nothing was unexpected; therefore, nothing overwhelmed her.

Gen'l Butler then aimed his last weapon at Wegi, saying that her son John just "plum doesn't want to see you." He emphasized that Roger and his wife were not being vindictive in communicating the boy's feelings. Wegi guessed that her son had been primed for weeks. John was expected to perform favorably, toward his father's point of view. Wegi asked that John be brought in. Gen'l Butler expectantly agreed.

When John entered the room, he was asked how he felt about Wegi: Did he want to visit her? John looked at his mother and grandmother. He said he loved his mom. He said he would like to spend ten months out of the year with her. Assuming John had misunderstood the question or had forgotten what he was supposed to answer, Gen'l Butler rephrased the question by including the words, "only one week a year or nothing". John answered by saying he loved Wegi, had fun with her, and wanted to be with her. At this point, Jinx shuffled her papers and said things which indicated that the case was closed. Apparently Gen'l Butler assessed that he would not win this case in court and began to discuss visitation rights. A show of strength had warded off a court scene.

For the first time Wegi had begun to deal with her ex-husband without feeling victimized. She developed this ability because she trusted women. Women in situations such as this one should gather

their strengths quickly and avoid wasting time by acting pathetically.

This article serves to publicly acknowledge the support which Wegi received from her community. Her mother is one important resource. Convinced that her daughter was being set up, she strongly supported Wegi in the fighting which led to victory. Wegi is also involved with Cleveland Women's Counsel, the Women's Growth Cooperative, and a circle of support and power. These organizations spent time talking to Wegi, giving with much depth. Another source of strength emerged from several women who loaned Wegi personal belongings, such as necklaces, representing personal symbols of power. Wegi took them with her and felt the power. Some individuals also spent hours role-playing so that she could practice a mock trial. This experience proved helpful. Others prepared Wegi for her struggle by lighting special candles and by meditating a positive.force. Wegi chanted with a group of women in order to provide herself with a remembrance to fight off fear. While in Nashville, she kept herself in control by listening to the chant in her mind.

Financial support constituted one of the most important factors. Wegi had started a Wegi Children's Defense Fund. To date $500 has been gath. ered. Coventry Books sent out flyers and kept a collection can, CWC mailed letters to former contributors. EmPress donated printing costs. Women friends distributed the flyers.

All this happened in just a few weeks. It is not necesssarily something which takes years. This article not only tells Wegi's story and thanks everyone who helped her; it reminds women that our community has strength and resourcefulness. No woman is alone in her struggles to defend her life and her needs. There are many women in Cleveland. who are, or will be, facing custody or visitation battles for their children. We can't let the energy disappear as each case becomes less unique. Each woman and each child should be equally important. After all, isn't that the basis for feminist politics? .. Vivian Lugo Berkman

PRO CHOICE DEMO IN AKRON

In October of 1977 an ordinance that will regulate abortions in Akron was introduced into City Council. The ordinance was written by members of the Akron Right to Life Society. It is reported (in Right to Life newsletters) to be the toughest regulation in the country. The ordinance will serve to psychologi. cally to harass women seeking abortion, could de prive women of needed medical treatment and could have serious ramifications on the use of certain contraceptives (IUD's and certain birth control pills). The woman seeking an abortion would be required to notify the father of the "unborn child" (throughout the entire ordinance reference is made only to "unborn child", never "fetus') that she is going to have an abortion. She would have to listen to a detailed description of the fetus (i.e., that it squints, smiles, sucks its thumb, etc.) and would have to be shown photographs of fetuses. She would have to be told that if she has an abortion she may commit suicide. There are numerous restrictions on abortion after viability (which they defined as 22 weeks).

While the ordinance, if passed, would affect only woman in Akron, it could ultimately affect every woman in the country. The compulsory-pregnancy pushers are using Akron as a testing ground (8 of the 13 city council members are Catholic) and have plans to introduce the ordinance around the country if they are successful here. The Right to Life Society is going all out on this campaign. They have said that they are bringing in over 30 nationally known people to testify in favor of the ordinance at the city

council hearings. Some of the names they have mentioned are Jesse Jackson, Dick Gregory and Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

It was for these reasons that Ohio NOW and the Akron Pro-Choice Coalition decided to have a state-wide rally and demonstration in Akron on the weekend of the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. This year has seen an alarming reduction in a woman's right to control her own body. All branches of government have taken anti-woman positions on the question of abortion. We must make a strong stand. We have been "counter-picketting" on a day we should have been celebrating for too long. This is the time to take the initiative and let the members of Akron's City Council and lawmakers across the state know that we will never let them take away our right to choose safe and legal abortions. We won the right to abortion in the streets and we will defend that right in the streets if we have to..

The rally will be on January 21 at 12:00 noon. We will assemble in Olin Hall at Akron University. It is on the corner of Buchtel and Union. There will be speakers and entertainment followed by a march to City Hall and the Federal Building. We will march back to Olin Hall, have a few sum-up speeches and make some plans for further actions. We are not calling this a "state-wide" rally lightly. We fell it is imperative at this time to come together and show our strength. We encourage people from all over the state vho believe in a woman's right to in Akron on the 21st.

-k.

What She Wants/January, 1978/page 1