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Vol. 78/No. 25      July 14, 2014

 
25, 50, and 75 Years Ago

July 14, 1989

“The government of the United States has blood on its hands,” declared Melodie Bahan, a leader of the National Organization for Women after the July 3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding Missouri antiabortion laws.

The ruling dealt a massive blow to women’s right to abortion — the biggest setback since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

The 5-4 majority in the case Webster v. Reproductive Health Services upheld a Missouri law that bars performing abortions in public hospitals or any publicly owned or funded facility; forbids public employees as such, including doctors and nurses, from performing in or assisting abortions unless necessary to save a woman’s life; and requires that medical tests be performed on any woman seeking an abortion who is thought to be at least 20 weeks pregnant in order to assess viability of the fetus.

July 13, 1964

NEW YORK — Malcolm X launched his long-awaited organization at a rally at the Audubon Ballroom here June 28. Its name is the Organization of Afro-American Unity. As OAAU chairman, Malcolm X read aloud its Statement of Basic Aims and Objectives. Applications for members in the new organization were accepted.

The OAAU’s object is to win freedom, justice, equality and dignity for Americans of African descent “by any means necessary.” “We want it now,” the black nationalist leader said, “or we don’t think anybody should have it.”

“Both parties are racist,” declared Malcolm X,” and the Democratic Party is more racist than the Republican Party … Both parties have sold us out.”

Malcolm X indicated that the new organization’s first actions would be against the Gestapo-like “No-Knock” and “Stop-and-Frisk” laws which have just gone into effect in New York.

July 14, 1939

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The opening gun in its campaign against the Coughlin fascists was fired this week by the Rochester local of the Socialist Workers Party, when it put salesmen on the streets selling the Socialist Appeal and the pamphlet “Father Coughlin — Fascist Demagogue.”

As soon as the S.W.P. members appeared with the Appeal they were taken by the cops to the police station and told they couldn’t sell papers on Main Street.

This police persecution, however, did not check the carrying forward of the anti-fascist campaign. Socialist Appeals and pamphlets were sold on the streets just off the Main Street and canvassed from house to house with great success. Several large outdoor rallies were held and young workers volunteered to sell the anti-Coughlin pamphlet.

Thus far, over 500 pamphlets have been sold in this town.  
 
 
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