A women’s group in Chicago helped pregnant women

In Chicago, a pregnant college student contemplates suicide. Heather Booth helps her get an illegal abortion in 1965. From this, an underground women’s group was formed that carried out abortions. The dark story could soon become reality again in the USA.

The feminist, activist and political strategist Heather Booth was at the origin of the Jane Collective in Chicago, which performed safe and affordable abortions underground until legalization in 1973.

Jared Soares / Eyevine / Laif

Political struggle is in Heather Booth’s blood. As an 18-year-old student in Chicago, she joined the civil rights movement. She spent the summer of 1964 in Mississippi teaching African-American children in freedom schools and helping black citizens get on an electoral roll. As in other Southern states, African Americans still did not have equal rights in access to education, elections, electricity or sewerage due to discriminatory laws. Those who resisted felt the bloody terror of the Ku Klux Klan.

Because the petite student in Mississippi with a sign that reads “Freedom Now!” demonstrating, Booth himself was once arrested by the police. However, just a year later, in August 1965, Congress in Washington passed the Voting Rights Act, which put an end to discriminatory voting laws in the southern states. Booth, now 76, says that she learned two important things from the summer in Mississippi: “Even if things seem hopeless, change is possible. But only if people organize themselves. And secondly, sometimes you have to stand up to illegitimate authorities.”

The pregnant daughter of a police officer also calls

The far-reaching abortion bans in all American states also seemed illegitimate to Booth. However, she only became aware of the problem by accident. “I had never thought about the subject.” But then a friend asked her for help whose sister was pregnant. “She played with suicidal thoughts.” Booth was well connected and asked the Medical Committee for Human Rights after, an arm of the civil rights movement. ‘I found Doctor Theodore Howard. He was a courageous civil rights activist in Mississippi. He came to Chicago after his name appeared on a Ku Klux Klan death list.”

Howard, an African American surgeon, performed an abortion for $500. “The student has had an extraordinary career. Today she is a well-known author and lecturer,” says Booth. At that time, she herself initially assumed that she would provide one-time assistance for a friend and his sister in need. “But the word spread and someone else called me.”

More and more women came to Booth for help. She negotiated with Doctor Howard, asked him if he could do the abortions cheaper if she brought him several patients at once. The doctor explained to her what the women need to know before the procedure and what they need later. “I took over the follow-up consultation.”

Heather Booth spent the summer of 1964 in southern Mississippi campaigning for African American suffrage.  Shortly after the moment captured in the picture, Booth was arrested by the police.

Heather Booth spent the summer of 1964 in southern Mississippi campaigning for African American suffrage. Shortly after the moment captured in the picture, Booth was arrested by the police.

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But then Booth lost contact with Howard. “He was arrested, as I found out later.” She found another doctor. “His name was Mike.” And soon, not only students and housewives from Chicago were calling Booth, but also women from the Midwest. “A wide variety of people came forward. Among them was the wife of a Chicago police officer whose daughter was pregnant.”

Booth was therefore convinced that the police knew what they were doing. However, the young student gave no thought to the possible criminal consequences. “I didn’t realize that if three people discussed abortion, it was considered an illegal conspiracy.” The left-wing activist first wanted to do a good deed for a friend and then rebelled against what she saw as “illegitimate authorities”. “It’s about freedom. It’s about women’s freedom to make the most intimate decision in their lives. About when, if or with whom we have a child.”

“Are you pregnant? won’t you be Call Jane.”

From 1967, several American states relaxed their abortion bans, including Hawaii, New York and Colorado. “If you had money and family support, you could go there for an abortion,” Booth explains. “Poorer people came to us now. Many of them were African American.”

It was getting to be too much for Booth. She was still studying, working part-time and gave birth to her first child in 1968. So she recruited other women and shared her wealth of experience with them. Her collective now gave itself the alias Jane. Around to publicize the «Service», the collective placed small advertisements in alternative print media or hung leaflets in telephone booths: “Are you pregnant? won’t you be Call Jane.”

Demonstration for the legalization of abortion in March 1968 in front of the Rockefeller Center in New York.

Demonstration for the legalization of abortion in March 1968 in front of the Rockefeller Center in New York.

Bev Grant/Getty

“The numbers kept going up,” says Booth. The women raised a system in private homes. The patients were given the address of “the front” where they received information about the forthcoming intervention. They were – at least in the beginning – blindfolded, before a chauffeur drove her to another apartment for the abortion. “But then Mike didn’t want to continue,” says Booth. It turned out that he did not have a doctor’s license. “The women now said to themselves: If Mike can perform an abortion, then we can do it too.”

Mike taught women everything. “The abortions were safe, easily accessible, but they weren’t legal,” Booth explains. Because the collective made no profit from it, each “customer” could pay as much as she could. The underground organization included a total of around a hundred women. “Between 1965 and 1973, Jane performed 11,000 abortions.”

However, in 1972 there was a raid. “The relative of a woman who wanted to have an abortion was so angry that she reported it to the police,” Booth recalls. The police officers gained access to the apartment and looked for a male surgeon: “They asked: ‘Where is he?’ But there was no he.” Seven women were arrested, each facing decades in prison.

History threatens to repeat itself

In January 1973, however, the criminal proceedings were no longer necessary. The Supreme Court, in its leading judgment “Roe v. Wade” a constitutional right to an abortion until the fetus is viable outside the womb – approximately 24 weeks gestation. The story of Jane also ended with the decision.

Opponents of abortion rights demonstrate in Clinton, Massachusetts, in March 1977 during a visit by President Jimmy Carter.

Opponents of abortion rights demonstrate in Clinton, Massachusetts, in March 1977 during a visit by President Jimmy Carter.

Mikki Ansin/Hulton/Getty

However, it would hardly be as worth telling if it could not soon be repeated in a new form in the USA. During President Donald Trump’s administration, the Supreme Court became significantly more conservative with three new judges nominated by him. Also due to a leaked draft judgment, the Supreme Court is now expected to rule “Roe v. Wade» cancelled. More than half of the states should then largely ban abortions.

“I was appalled but not surprised,” Booth said of the draft verdict that was announced in May. It is reminiscent of a song from the civil rights movement: “Freedom is a constant struggle”. Freedom is a constant struggle. Booth knows how to fight. Preferably in the background: The 76-year-old is now one of the most sought-after organizers in the Democratic Party. Even as a young mother, she forced the city of Chicago to provide one million dollars for childcare with a protest movement. Political campaign management was also a male domain at the time. So in 1973 Booth founded the Midwest Academy, which encouraged women in particular to learn the art of «organizing».

Pro-choice activists demonstrate at the Washington Monument before a march to the Supreme Court on May 14, 2022.

Pro-choice activists demonstrate at the Washington Monument before a march to the Supreme Court on May 14, 2022.

Kent Nishimura/Getty

If the Supreme Court actually overturns the nationwide right to abortion, Booth also sees an opportunity in this. “We have to use this for the midterm elections and organize ourselves.” One in four American women undergo an abortion in her lifetime. Around 70 percent of the population wanted to participate in «Roe v. Wade» hold on. “If everyone who supports this position votes, we win.”

Booth believes the abortion issue mobilizes people. To make her contribution, she goes to demonstrations herself, appears as a speaker and helps two new films about the Jane collective to apply. She is still well connected, working on campaigns for the Democrats and President Joe Biden. “I go to all kinds of meetings.” And people there now said to her: “I wasn’t really active, but now I will be.”

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