CLEVELAND PRO-CHOICE DEMONSTRATION:

TOWARD A RENEWED ACTIVISM

It seemed too early on a cold, blustery hundred women and men Saturday morning, but

showed up on October 7 to protest a day of anti-abortion organizing workshops at Cleveland State University. They chanted and marched to keep warm, carried signs stating "My Body Belongs to Me" and other pro-choice slogans, and ended with a rally and the feminist song, "I Still Ain't Satisfied."'

The picket was initiated by What She Wants, Cleveland's feminist newspaper, and the International Socialist Women's Caucus. Twelve women's groups, pro-choice groups, and clinics joined in the ad hoc coalition. At the demonstration, old friends called to each other, "I haven't seen you for ages! It's time we did something about those right-tolifers. People were tired of sitting on their hands while the right wing organized, and they were high because they were finally beginning to act against them.

Ohio has been a target state for anti-abortion activists during the past year. Attempts have been made to pass anti-abortion ordinances in several cities, including Akron and Cleveland Heights.

Abortion and family planning clinics have been picketed, invaded, vandalized and bombed. During the week of September 30-October 7, anti-abortion groups held four major organizing events: a march, a speech, a debate and the organizing workshops picketed on October 7.

Feminist organizations and left groups have been fragmented and isolated from one another. Many pro-choice groups lobbied legislatures, hoping the threat would die down. There was no ongoing pro-choice movement in Cleveland.

The October 7 demonstration is an important turning point. It shows that Clevelanders in favor of women's right to control their own bodies are ready to start using more militant tactics to fight back against the right wing. The members of the ad hoc coalition demonstrated a willingness to emphasize their unity and cooperation rather than focus on their differences. Beth Cagan, a feminist Assistant Professor at CSU, not only participated in the planning for the event but went beyond it by helping to organize a Pro-Choice Chapter at CSU. Several members staffed a table at CSU on October 6 to

distribute NARAL literature and talk with students One woman at the about pro-choice issues. demonstration said, "I thought this was such a basic right that you didn't have to organize to protect it. I'm beginning to realize I was wrong. Those people are going to eliminate the right to get an abortion if we don't do something."'

Everyone knows that the fight will be a long one. But we feel we've made a start in building a network of activists who can organize effectively against the right wing and extend reproductive rights even further. As the song which ended the rally puts it,

They liberalized abortion -I still ain't satisfied! 'Cause it still cost a fortune I still ain't satisfied]

I'm talking about control of my own womb, And no reform is gonna change my tune.

I

got my pride, I won't be lied to.

I did decide, halfway just won't do!

And they lied, and they lied,

And I still ain't satisfied!

--Carol Platt and Carol Epstein

Revitalization of CARAL Planned Nov. 5

Members of both the local and national Right to Life Society continue to accelerate their activities aimed not only at returning abortion to the back alleys, but also at diverting all federal money from family planning services and toward their own problem pregnancy centers, While these centers offer some free pre-natal care to women, they refuse to do contraceptive counseling or make referrals for contraceptive information. Through various riders and amendments, Right to Life lobbyists have already limited the availability of reproductive

FEEDBACK

Friends,

On Saturday morning, October 7, one hundred pro-choice men and women picketed in front of Cleveland State University to lodge a strong protest against the lies that were being told under the guise of "education" in workshops engineered by the Right to Life Society of Cleveland. These workshops were geared toward the development of strategy which will further limit our personal freedom. By mapping out sophisticated political attacks and using emotional rhetoric RTL continues to erode a most basic and private right -the right to choose or not choose maternity.

It is encouraging to note that a handful of dedicated women (including [a staff person] of "What She Wants'') mobilized in one week twice the support for a pro-choice demonstration than RTL had for all of their workshops with the advantage of weeks of preparation.

The organizing committee and the picketers who got up early on that cold Saturday morning deserve our thanks and our continued support. I hope that Saturday's demonstration opens the way for reviving the pro-choice movement in Cleveland.

Christine Link Associate Director Education for Freedom of Choice in Ohio

Page 2/What She Wants/November, 1978

control to poor women, women in the Peace Corps, military women and the dependents of military personnel.

Your right to make a personal decision regarding pregnancy and abortion is under attack by subtle legislative maneuvers in Washington right now. The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), headquartered in Washington, D.C., works to monitor and lobby against the barrage of repressive legislation which is introduced on a daily basis in Congress. But this national organization is

My advice

to the women

of America

is to raise more hell

and fewer dahlias.

dependent on its local affiliates for the grass roots efforts which ultimately influence members of the House and Senate. In addition, the local affiliates of NARAL take responsibility for monitoring and lobbying on the regional level. In Northeast Ohio, the Cleveland Abortion Rights Action League (CARAL) is re-organizing in an effort to deal with local issues important to reproductive freedom.

Although pro-choice supporters outnumber the

compulsory pregnancy movement, we presently lack their organization and momentum. If we are to win this battle and prevent a return to repressive laws encroaching on our personal freedoms we must act now in a unified and effective manner.

CARAL is the only individual membership organization in Cleveland which can turn pro-choire support into action. On Sunday, November 5, at 2:30 p.m., a general membership meeting of CARAL will be held to plan an offensive strategy for the pro-choice movement in Cleveland. The meeting is at the home of Robin and Meacham Hitchcock, 9913 Lakeshore Blvd,

The march in Akron in September and picketing at CSU on October 7 were positive events for reproductive freedom. But our future tactics must be directed at the legislators who have been convinced by the Right to Life movement that no one supports the right of women to make private choices about pregnancy and contraception. Come to the November 5 meeting and assist in renewing the power of the Cleveland Abortion Rights Action League.

Call Mary, 791-0282; Chris, 486-4370 (evenings); or Carole, 283-7528 (days) for information and directions to the Hitchcocks'.

"Preventive" Legislation Proposed in Boston Hts.

Designed from the Akron model, another antiabortion ordinance has been proposed in Ohio. Boston Heights City Council members voted to table the proposal pending the court's decision on its Akron prototype. Sylvia Cargould, Boston Heights Councilmember, told WSW that she and other Council members feel so strongly about the, ordinance that it will appear as a referendum on the November 7 ballot. This proposal would function as a "preventive" measure since there are no abortion clinic services available in the village.