In the early 1970s, the future of abortion in America was far from settled. Some states were pushing to liberalize their laws. In others, women could be prosecuted for terminating a pregnancy. Unexpected and dramatic battles raged across the country, shaping the landscape of abortion—even before Roe v. Wade was decided. In this one hour special you’ll hear the story of Shirley Wheeler who in 1971 became the public face of the fight for abortion rights.In 1970, 22-year-old Shirley Wheeler got an illegal abortion in Florida. When she refused to tell the police who performed the procedure, she was arrested and charged with manslaughter. In the months that followed, she’d be prosecuted and publicly condemned. She’d also become the public face of the fight for reproductive rights.
This special will air on Friday July 29th at 10 AM and 8 PM here on 88.3 FM KCPW.
