The June 22 Summer Solstice Party hosted by Patrice Ingrassia and Chris Broda was a very busy event with several speakers, awards, and annual elections. It was particularly thrilling that our two young speakers were strong feminists. Tobie Smith of Tuckahoe, a world championship swimmer, spoke first because she had to get up early the next morning to swim relay in the 20th annual race around Manhattan Island sponsored by the Manhattan swim foundation. The race starts at the Battery, goes eastbound to the East River, north to the Harlem River, and back down the Hudson to the starting pint. We since found out that Tobie's team won. Tobie spoke to her swim championships, her childhood training, and her public speaking to girls and women about the role of athletics in their lives. She believes that in addition to strength and health, competitive swimming has given her confidence and perseverence, friendships all over the world, and the ability to get along with all kinds of people. It was so moving to all of us to hear Tobie credit NOW's role in passage and implementation of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act with enabling her to have the athletic opportunities she did. Because the Act requires equal funding for female and male sports in publicly funded schools, Tobie was awarded athletic scholarships to college and to medical school.
Jennifer Pozner, Women's Desk Director of the Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) monitors and writes about media bias against women. Jennifer told of how quickly corporate media has cozied up to the Bush Administration, from minimizing protests at the inauguration, to failing to explore the global gag rule denying funding to organizations that discuss contraception and abortion. Through her work at the Women's desk, Jennifer, a fiery feminist, has devoted sustained attention to combating media bias against women of all races, sexual orientation, and economic status. When asked how we could help, she urged us to write to the networks, press, and industry whenever we perceive bias against women. Because they pay attention to their mail, we should protest the nasty and belittling descriptions of women and even the omission of women's issues.
Jennie Ries, founder of the escort service at the Dobb's Ferry Women's Clinic, presented awards to long-time escorts Judy Aronowitz and Lou Kahn for their faithful service at the Clinic every Saturday. They have braved verbal and physical harassment from the anti-abortion extremists while protecting the women clients trying to get into the clinic. As the newsletter goes to press, The Kroeger family of Utica, mother, father, and two adult daughters, were convicted under state protection of clinics law of illegal harassment and threats of abortion clients and providers. The judge imposed a stiff $80,000 fine. The defendants denied harassment and will appeal. It will be interesting to follow the case to see if the appeal fails and what the effects will be on other extremists. ¨
