Last November, I was sitting in a diner with an enthusiastic WoLF member in NYC, talking about how irritating it was that we all have to sneak around like criminals to have meetings. And she said we should have a big meeting in New York City, bring out some of our favorite feminists, just go for it. 

After much discussion over the next few weeks, we ended up settling on January 17th, when the New York Public Library had a room free on a weekday and everyone could make it.

So that’s how I ended up negotiating with the New York Public Library over hosting our event, An Evening With Cancelled Women, in late December, when everything gets held up for another two weeks if you haven’t gotten it done before the Christmas holiday. We had an uncontested hold on the room though, the rental fee was ready, it seemed like it would be fine.

Then this past Thursday, after 5pm, the day before the deposit was due, and after about a week of very slow responses assuring me that the contract was in process, the New York Public Library rejected our booking.

That’s right. They cancelled us.

Dominique Christina, Libby Emmons, Linda Bellos, Meghan Murphy, Posie Parker, and myself, are apparently too alarming for the New York Public Library. So they will not take our money to rent a hall for a private event, where we plan to talk about women’s rights to a life free of pervasive harassment, silencing, coercion, violence, forced lying, and endless punishment for calling out child abuse.

Midtown Manhattan has many meeting rooms, so we’ve been able to find another one, but we won’t be able to announce the venue until we let ticket holders know, that morning, as we’ve had to do with previous events, in order to minimize threats and harassment.

If you’d like to join all of us cancelled women in Midtown Manhattan, from 6-9pm, this coming Friday, January 17th, for an evening of poetry, storytelling, and conversation, you can buy a ticket here.

If you’d like to support the cost of this and future events — since we’ve announced the New York and Seattle events, several more women have spoken up to ask if we can have one near them, and we’re thinking about it — which includes security, room rental, travel, lodging, and basic expenses for presenters, you can donate here.

One of these days, we’re going to be able to have regular, public meetings, like normal people. But until then, I sure am grateful that so many of you have been willing to stand with us against a veritable hurricane of popular nonsense. Thank you.

Come meet me in New York City?

In solidarity,

Natasha Chart, Board chair