ATLANTIC CITY (Continued from p.4)
coverage of the disruption (we were told later that one of the cameramen
was about to pan to the balcony when he was told that if he did he
would lose his job), the cameras
and micro phones did record the visible turning of heads and the stuttering
and trembling of Miss America as we shouted "Freedom for Women!"
and "No More Miss America" and hung a banner from the balcony
reading, "Women's Liberation."
 The
sixteen were quickly hustled out, and five were arrested, charges
against them later dropped, Earlier Peggy Dobbins had been arrested
and held on $1,000 bail, She was charged with disorderly conduct and
"emanating a noxious odor" for spraying a can of Toni home
permanent throughout the audience.
The Pageant
and city officials were undoubtedly. sensitive on this area of commercial
products. We had already a declared a boycott of the products sponsoring
the Pageant which Toni is one (the others are Pepsi-Cola and Oldsmobile).
We expected
that they would sweep Peggy's case under the rug. Instead the charges
against her were escalated to an indictable offense, with a possible
sentence of two to three years.
All in all,
the day was a tremendous success, We intend to be back in Atlantic
City next year and every year until Miss America Pageant is closed
down. It may not take too long. There have been rumors that because
of the disturbance, the Pageant next year may be taped with no studio
audience.
We have
also been in contact with a former Miss America who is on our side,
and have heard from a women who was asked to be a judge but declined,
partly, because she heard of our plans. I suppose it's possible to
have the Pageant without an audience, but you can hardly have one
without contestants or judges.
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NATIONAL NEWS (Continued from p.3
)
needs, Ann Herschfang reports that many of small, isolated,
feminist groups are springing up spontaneously from Berkeley to San
Diego "
It has
been suggested that each newsletter contain names of chapter contacts
to help local recruiting in various areas. Chapters that would like
to be listed should select contact women and send the particulars to
VWLM. If you live in an area where there is no chapter and would like
to start one, write us for the names of other interested people.
NOTES FROM THE FIRST YEAR, a 34-page booklet of writings by New
York women put out last June received favorable reviews in The Guardian
and the Village Voice Copies are selling for 50 cents to women
and $1.00 to men and are available from Marion Davidson. Cindy Cisler
reports that distribution in bookstores and word-of-mouth publicity
has brought in many new members, New chapters have started in Los Angeles,
San Francisco and New Haven. Contact Devra Weber in L.A., Pam Allen
in S.F. or Harriet Wolff in New Haven.
A Cambridge
chapter has published a literary journal on women's liberation with
poems, essays, graphics and photograph collages. It is nameless ---
can be purchased from $1.25 from Roxanne Dunbar.
The
State College, Pennsylvania chapter is fighting to get equal representation
on the Town Independent Men's Council, the civic governing body. The
council has offered to give women two of its twenty-six seats.
The
Women's Radical Action Project in Chicago (WRAP) held its first meeting
open to men. Of the nearly 80 people attending the meeting, over half
were men, Out of a discussion of the mutually dehumanizing roles imposed
on men and women developed plans for a men's liberation group. The general
tone of the meeting was one of openness and sympathy.
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