Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade Letter

Title

Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade Letter

Subject

Feminism.

Description

Letter asking for donations for legal expenses for six arrested women who disrupted the S. 158 Human Life Bill Senate hearing, circa 1981.

Creator

Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade

Source

Susan Hasalo Sojourner Collection, M539, Historical Manuscripts, Special Collections, The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries.

Date

circa 1981

Rights

Copyright owned by the Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade and off our backs (oob).

Format

Image/gif

Language

En

Type

Text

Original Format

Letter

Files

Letter with a female symbol and a fist in the center as its header. <br /> "Dear Friends,<br /> We are asking for financial support for the legal expenses of six women who were arrested on April 23, 1981 for disrupting U.S. Senate hearings on S. 158, the so-called Human Life Bill. If passed, this bill, introduced by Jesse Helms (R. - N.C.) and promoted by John East (R. - N.C.), would state that human life begins at the moment of conception, thus making abortion and some forms of birth control murder. The six women, members of the Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade, held signs and shouted pro-abortion slogans until they were arrested.<br /> The women are presently charged with "disruption of Congress." a federal statute punishable by a maximum of six months in jail and/or a $500 fine. Frequently this charge is reduced to disorderly conduct, an alternative that the U.S. Attorney's office has refused in this case. The arraignment judge has refused to follow the bail agency's recommendation to release the defendants on personal recognizance and stated openly that even though he had no doubt that the women would return for trial, he wanted them to feel the consequences of their "willfully" illegal action. The women are currently free on $100 bail each, and the trial is set for July 6th.<br /> We need your help. The government's treatment of these activists makes clear that we must all work together against the mounting right-wing backlash. Contributions from your organization and assistance in informing the members of your group, either through news stories, announcements, or free classifieds in your newsletters or bulletin board notices are essential to our success.<br /> We have taken the risk of exposing to he nation the sham of John East's Human Life Bill hearings. Your financial help will demonstrate the broad base from which our actions sprang.<br /> Please make checks to April 23 Defense Committee and send to Committee, c/o Smith, 687 Sackett St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11217. For more information, call Tacie Dejanikus, 202 (234-8072) W or write c/o off our backs, 1724 20th St., N.W., Wash. D.C. 20009.<br /> In sisterhood, the Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade."

Citation

Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade, “Women's Liberation Zap Action Brigade Letter,” Online Exhibits at Southern Miss, accessed September 15, 2024, https://usmspecialcollections.omeka.net/items/show/339.

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