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Baird to Challenge Birth Curb LawsBy DAVE MARANISS (Of The Capital Times Staff)William R. Baird, “the nation's leading abortion and birth control fighter/’ arrived in Madison Monday afternoon in preparation for what he hopes will be a decision-inspiring lecture on abortion law repeal to be delivered tonight at 8, in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.The 38-year-old New Yorker plans to include the display of abortion and birth control devices in his speech. Such a display will be in violation of a century old Wisconsin statute, and is punishable by six-months imprisonment.At a press conference held immediately after his arrival at Madison municipal airport Baird said he -was “happy to be a. part of a human liberation effort at the invitation of the people of Wisconsin to help challenge their archaic birth control law.”He claimed he.-was ready to “offer my freedom in order to reach the conscience of the peo-pie of your -state,” by openly violating the law, which “makes a mockery of justice in denying the poor equal access to (birth control and abortion) medical help.”Baird viewed his action not as a crime, “but an orderly'test of the constitutionality of a law that has been forced upon all concerned because of the irre-sponsihilityy and negligence of many state legislators/9 He argued- Monday that the perpetuation of the birth control law “was a greater crime by far” than his challenge of it.It was his hope, he said, that his lectures and actions throughout the c o u n t r y will “help, remove the ‘American Geographical Syndrome’ that exists—with an American in one part of uie country not concerned about the injustices in another part.”As corny* as it sound s,” Baird asserted,, “if I didn’t love my nation, or the people of Wisconsin, I would not be here today to face the risk of myWilliam Bairdnation.”It has been anticipated, and to an extent planned by Baird and his sympathizers in Madison, that a complaint will be brought against him after his speech tonight. In an attempt to avoid the possible six-month jail sentence, Madison Atty. Percy Julian Jr. filed a suit July 26 on Baird’s behalf in U.S. District Court. It asked for a temporary order restraining local and state law enforcement officials from enforcing the state law at his lecture.U.S. District Judge- James E. Doyle denied the restraining order late Monday afternoon. Aside from stopping any prosecution, the order would have forced Atty. Gen. Robert Wr-ren to defend the, constitutionality of the statute.In an affidavit presented to Judge Doyle during the restraining order proceedings, a Madison resident, Richard Dei Balso, asserted that he plans to attend Baird’s lecture, and will sign a complaint with the district attorney’s office if he observes any violation of the state birth control law.Del Balso, who became somewhat of a crusader himself when he filed a c o m p 1 a i n t against Rennebohm’s Drug Store for selling him prophylactics although he is unmarried, will file the complaint atfreedom. I come to this stateiBaird’s discretion.Dinrl Dirxrtt.
Newspaper Details
Madison Capital Times
Madison, Wisconsin, US
Tue, Aug 03, 1971
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Madison P.
WI, USA 21 Aug 2024
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Madison Wisconsin State Journal
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