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THURSDAY

Liberal organizers concentrated so hard in the ’80s and early ’90s that they burned themselves out, hoping Clinton would pick up the slack. He couldn’t, and by then the term “grass-roots” had lost its cachet. So when the 23rd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade comes around on Jan. 22, it’ll be up to NOW to represent status-quo women’s rights against the anti-choicers—don’t count on seeing any radical groups proudly waving their plastic speculums. All of which makes it a down year for Laura Kaplan to publish The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service. This chronicle of a Chicago women’s network, formed in 1969 to provide safe abortions, earnestly preaches to the converted: “Women are being reduced, once again, to the incubators of future generations with total responsibility but no power.” Could be, but what can we do about it in 1996? Kaplan reads at 7 p.m. at Politics & Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. FREE. (202) 364-1919.