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(Seven Jane
members were arrested for performing illegal abortions during the
first week of May. Defense of the Abortion 7 was the main topic for
this critical CWLU steering meeting).
CWLU
Steering Committee Minutes-May 7, 1972
(Editors note: This meeting discussed how the CWLU should
help defend the 7 Jane members arrested the previous week for
performing illegal abortions.)
R.S.
began the meeting with a run down of the public information concerning
the Wednesday incident. This will be distributed soon. She went
on to say that the people involved have at this point decided to
act in a way to assure acquittal, which to them means making a deal,
or doing a straight legal case. The evidence points to Wednesday's
incident being an accident rather than a conscious political decision,
making the two choices seem the safest means. R.S's groups have
disbanded as of May 5
C.W.
from Fri. nite chapter presented the results of their meeting around
the ab. issue. This had been done originally in the hope that a
proposal of strategy could be presented to the 7 people for their
consideration. It will be summarized briefly:
Three
possible strategies
- deal
- straight
legal case
- political
case - challenge the law, mass mobilization of women around issue
-
The
points in favor of number 3 are
-
a.
local base support -many groups sympathetic to issue fund raising,
demonstrations organization possibilities
b.
J. constituency
c.
liberal establishment support - editorials and news coverage have
been extremely supportive, many good women reporters to utilize
d.
local political conditions - many other groups working to defeat
Hanrahan, Democratic Party in trouble - liberals, independents
and women gaining offices
e.
national sentiment and anti ab. law struggle
f.
legal status of law in question - various states have repealed,
Bella Abzug proposal to repeal nationwide, lobby in Springfield
The
general consensus of the chapter was that political conditions were
ripe for a victory. The anti ab.law struggle is big right now, the
trial would be a good - focus for sentiment both organizational
and individual, the result of a clear victory might be total repeal,
etc.
Although the decision by the 7 people tended to make the whole political
discussion irrelevant insofar as it would lead to trial--identified
strategy, the points raised continued to come up during the meeting
and people were often not clear how to discuss strategy apart from
the trial. The main confusion seemed to be people's thinking political
trial meant only courtroom tactics, when in fact it is not possible
to talk about dozens of other allied actions apart from the courtroom.
D.C. of the Hyde Park Chapter outlined their proposal for immediate
and ongoing action around the issue.
- fund
raising
-
defense committees and community meetings in areas where we work,
live, etc,
-
procedural
strategy - what to do and who, in CWLU to do it
- build
for A major demonstration
There
was a confused debate as to what proposals should be discussed,
how, and in what order. Should we talk about what the CWLU should
do before 7 people decide specific tactics, should we send CWLU
reps. to outline possible strategies for them to consider before
making decision, or what.
D.C. suggested that people. Objection that sending someone would
be arrogant action. The tenuous relationship of J. and CWLU was
mentioned here and at other times with no examination of the factors
contributors to the bad relationship.
A. R. proposed to talk about objective political conditions first
so we could effectively talk about strategy.
D.C. proposed that we vote on one of the following a. strategic
and political aspects of case b. organizational tactics to do in
support c. neither one DECISION - to discuss organizational questions
A discussion of coalition effort for defense project. Agreed that
in theory coalition is strongest tool but entrance to coalition
must be done from position of strength.
Informal
discussion of basic actions petition campaign to get charges dropped
and law off books, city wide informational and planning meeting priorities
of coalition's work
It was informally decided that S.C. members would take several suggestions
to their groups, such as
a. immediate
fund raising,b.
get basic info. out to people, c. get one person from each union chapter
and work group to be on defense committee, and d. get community groups
going, S.C. would also bring back more suggestions from groups, R.S.
to be liason between 7 people and CWLU for time being. S.C. to make
all decisions relating to defense committee and act as direction for
health project.
Adjourned
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Jane 
