Feminist Fightback Filmclub presents: The Janes

This month we will be showing a documentary about events in 1970s that are once again topical.

The Janes is a documentary from directors Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes that tells the story of The Jane Collective, which helped thousands of women obtain abortions in the US when they were still illegal in the late 1960s and early ‘70s. The Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision of January 1973 legalized abortion in the US and brought some relief. With its overturning a short while ago the story of their daring remains frighteningly relevant nearly 50 years later.

The film showing will be followed by a discussion featuring two guest speakers.

Jane Grant is a feminist activist who moved to London from the US. Attending the first Women’s  Liberation Conference in Oxford  in 1970 transformed her politics and reading Our Bodies Ourselves influenced her decision to become a midwife.

Sue O’Sullivan has been a women’s liberationist in London since the late 1960s after growing up in the USA.  She had an illegal abortion when she was 21 while living in New York State before any abortions were legal. This was a horrifying experience and led Sue to feel passionately about women’s right to accessible, freely available abortion – now more than ever.

Feminist Fightback Film Club will be at a new venue for this screening – Vibast Community Centre, 167 Old Street, London EC1V 9NH. The centre is in St Luke’s, a three-minute walk from Old Street station. It is also served by a large number of buses, the 55 and 243 having stops almost in front of the venue . The venue is accessible and has accessible toilets. We will screen the film with subtitles.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start. All genders welcome.

This is a free screening, with donations collected on the night. Drinks and snacks will be available.