Cap Brigade Member in Cleveland

By Barbara Winslow

a Schulman, one of six women charged with srupting" Sen. John East's anti-abortion hearon April 23, recently spoke at a fund-raiser for Cleveland Pro-Choice Action Committee AC). When asked about speaking out at the ate anti-abortion hearings, Sara explained:

I went to Washington because the Human Life bill would result in illegal abortions and I

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OOB/Workers' Educational Assn.

know that women would die. East had arranged he hearings so that no feminist or progressive organization or person would testify. The word

"woman" and the word "abortion" were not to be used. We in CARASA [Committee for Abortion Rights and Against Sterilization Abuse], like other women's groups, asked if we could testify. We were turned down.

Six of us went into the hearings with signs. It was awful. The people speaking were talking about zygotes and astronauts, anything but women. And so we stood up and spoke out that "A Woman's Life is a Human Life" and that we thought the hearings should hear from

women.

So we were arrested and charged with disruption of a Congressional proceeding.

Sara is a member of CARASA, which like PCAC is a member of the Reproductive Rights National Network (R2N2). She got involved in the abortion rights movement over a year ago when she was in Europe.

ap Action Update

By Loretta Feller

The trial of the six women of the Zap Action gade who demonstrated on behalf of women at ator East's one-sided hearings on the antirtion S.B. 158 (see June 1981 WSW) was tponed from July 6th to September 21st. During the first week of July, Judge Harriet lor ruled on various motions. Judge Taylor ied motions by two of the women that they be wed to act as co-counsel. Although they may parbate in bench conferences in which legal matters discussed with attorneys during the trial, the nen will not be permitted to give opening or closstatements or to examine witnesses.

udge Taylor also denied a motion to dismiss the rges based on selective prosecution. The women

I was involved in an illegal abortion situation specifically helping women from Spain get abortions in the South of France. I saw there first-hand how terribly the women were treated by the doctors when abortions were illegal. I returned home just before the Hyde Amendment [cutting off federal funds for poor women who need abortions] was ruled constitutional. I

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contended that no one had ever been prosecuted in the past for an action of this kind.

In an attempt to deny the political ramifications of the trial, attorneys for the government moved to block the women from talking about S.B. 158, and to prevent their counsel from questioning witnesses about the selection process for, or the format of, the Senate hearings. Although the judge granted the government motions, she said she would decide during the trial whether or not to allow the women to talk about their views on abortion.

Judge Taylor did not rule on the legality of the Brigade's subpoena of Senator John East. East has said he would appear at trial, but would only answer questions pertaining to his role as an eyewitness to the events, and not those relating to the process of selecting people to testify' at the Senate hearings or to the arrests of the women.

'oll Shows Public Supports Free Choice

The U.S. public supports abortion by a wide rgin, according to a recent national opinion poll. er three-fourths of those surveyed indicated apval of abortion under most circumstances, nolishing the new right claims of public support its reactionary positions on women and sexuality. poll also suggests, however, that pro-choice ces will have to work very hard to publicize their wpoint and to overcome class prejudices in the 3.

The poll, conducted in May by the Washington st and ABC News, telephoned 1533 people all over country to ask a series of questions about sexualimorality and personal choice. Forty percent of the aple approved of abortion on demand and another percent approved of abortion in most instances. ty-seven percent said they would oppose a uman life" law making abortion murder. Those stioned apparently felt abortion was justified by iger to a woman's life or health, or pregnancy m rape or incest, but not poverty. Asked to imne that they had a pregnant 15-year-old daughter, y 23 percent of those questioned said they would

advise her to seek an abortion. This suggests many people are still unaware or unconcerned about the havoc unwanted pregnancies bring to teenagers and poor women.

The poll also asked people about their contact with fundamentalist, "pro-life" and "electronic ministry" groups prominent in the campaign against abortion. Whereas 71 percent of those questioned had heard about "right-to-life" groups, only 25 percent had ever heard of organized pro-choice groups. Twenty-nine percent regularly watched or listened to radio or TV ministers.

Karen Mulhauser, Director of the National Abortion Rights Action League, points out that antiabortion forces have access to money and institutions denied pro-abortion groups. Mulhauser suggests, however, that the right has "created the perception that anti-abortion people are strong enough to defeat the politicians who oppose them. That perception isn't substantiated by this or other polls on the issue".

-The Guardian July 15, 1981

saw what terrible shape the abortion movement was in. So I got involved.

The issue of abortion is important from two points of view. One, it is women's assertion of their autonomy from male "control. And secondly, the issue of abortion is the front line attack by the right wing in this country. If abortion goes, so will everything else.

But the issue of abortion is not a specific issue and cannot be separated from other important issues, especially the fight against sterilization abuse and the fight for lesbian rights. Lesbian rights challenge the male supremacist culture which stands for heterosexual romance, marriage and motherhood. When we speak about women's control of our own lives, we mean the right of women to be more than mothers. We mean the right of women not to be mothers if they so choose.

1 believe that if you are in an organization that cannot say the words "abortion rights" or "lesbian rights" you should get out of that organization and join another one.

Schulman concluded by urging everyone to join a reproductive rights group and to make certain that the group addresses all aspects of reproductive rights-sterilization abuse, day care, lesbian rights, better wages and working conditions.

The Zap Action Brigade defendants must still raise $5,000 for their defense. Their trial begins September 21 and they could face six months in jail and a $500 fine. They have committed no crime.

If abortion is made illegal, either through a Human Life Amendment or by statute, most of us will want to defy such a law. In that sense we will all ́ become criminals because we will be fighting for a woman's right to control her reproductive destiny. This is why all sections of the women's movement should contribute to the defense of these six women. If you have not yet sent a check, please do so. Make checks payable to Libby Smith and send them to the Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade, c/o Libby Smith, 687 Sackett Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217.

Dessie Woods Free

Dessie Woods walked out of the Women's Correctional Center in Hardwick, Georgia, on July 9 after six long years' imprisonment. Woods, who is about to begin a speaking tour, held a press conference to thank the many people in this country and abroad who rallied to her defense.

Woods, a black woman, was convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison for successfully defending herself and a friend, Cheryl Todd, against a racist who attempted to rape them, shooting him with his own gun. She terms her release, "A victory-by me being free this will give confidence to others in prison the only way we will receive justice is through the people's struggle".

She concluded, "I want to work with all groups and organizations because working class and poor people need to unite. We are all victimized by the U.S. government",

Swedish Legislation

(HerSay)-Lesbian and gay marriages may soon be legal in Sweden. A Swedish parliamentary committee has recommended that marriages of homosexuals be officially recognized. Parliament is also in the process of preparing supportive legislation expected to be ready before the end of 1982. The legislation would affect 650,000 homosexuals now living in Sweden.

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July-August, 1981/What She Wants/Page 5