The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.61/No.23           June 9, 1997 
 
 
25 And 50 Years Ago  
June 9, 1972
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Abortion Action Week had a nationwide impact in New Zealand, with six cities taking part. In Wellington and Christchurch, a total of more than 500 persons marched May 5, the large majority of them women. On the marches and at pickets and other activities, the demand was raised for the repeal of all anti-abortion laws and for free, easily available contraception and sterilization.

The demonstrations were probably the first such actions around a feminist issue in New Zealand since women fought for the vote in the late nineteenth century. Certainly onlookers found it novel to see so many women, of all ages, chanting "a woman's right to choose" as they marched thorough the crowded city streets.

Public reaction, particularly that of women, was generally favorable. An information booth set up in Christchurch encountered many women who wanted to petition for the repeal of restrictive abortion laws. However, in Wellington, supporters of the "Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child" tried to sabotage the pro-abortion demonstration. About fifty "fetus freaks," mostly men, followed the main march and later, at a public meeting, caused a commotion by trying to shout down the speakers.

Many high-school women took part in the actions and a high-school speaker at the Wellington rally was very well received.

June 7, 1947
CHICAGO, May 30 - Representatives of over twenty labor, civil liberties and civic organizations launched a united campaign to end the discriminatory policies in the hiring of sales clerks that prevail in the department stores in the Loop. The conference Monday night organized a United Committee on the State Street Stores and elected a Steering Committee to direct the campaign and mobilize labor and community support to end discrimination in the hiring policies of the department stores.

The campaign was opened after the rejection of Doris Dixon, who applied at Goldblatt's Department Store on April 12. Miss Dixon, a graduate of the Chicago Public Schools and Tennessee State College, had been informed that Goldblatt's was hiring sales clerks. She was told that no jobs were available and was refused an application. Ethel Weiss, a white girl who entered the Goldblatt's employment office a few minutes after Miss Dixon, was given an application and urged to have an immediate interview.

A delegation from CORE led by Gerald Bullock, called on R. J. Mallin of Goldblatt's employment office to protest the store's policy of discrimination. Mr. Mallin did not deny the charge of bias but told the committee that they should be working on race hate in the South and leave Goldblatt's alone.  
 
 
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