JCF event draws 1,150 but Steinem refuses to cross ‘boycott line’

Friday, March 11, 2005 | by

alexandra j. wall

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom wasn’t the only one who wouldn’t cross a “boycott line” outside the San Francisco Hilton on Monday, March 7. Neither would Gloria Steinem, keynote speaker at the “Power of One” dinner, put on by the Women’s Alliance of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation.

When the 1,150 women arrived at their tables in the Hilton’s ballroom — if they hadn’t yet heard — they were greeted with notes in their seats: “We learned this morning that because of the hotel labor situation, Gloria Steinem will be speaking to us live from a local studio location.”

The absent Steinem spoke via satellite hookup from a studio in the city.

The following day, Steinem told j. in a phone interview that she was informed last week that there might be a boycott of the Hilton because of two high-profile events going on there that day, the other being a Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Steinem asked a local friend and union organizer to try and strike a compromise with the union. They negotiated throughout the weekend.

“My hope was that I could march on the picket line with the union for an hour and then go in and do the event, but the union did not accept that solution,” Steinem said.

So by late morning March 7, she had made her decision.

Steinem did not stay at the Hilton. But the JCF held the dinner there because “it’s hard to find a venue that can be kosher for that many, and of course we never imagined that the labor dispute would go on this long,” said Joni Block, director of the Women’s Alliance.

The “Power of One” has gotten higher profile speakers in the past two years, nearly doubling the attendance of years past. Last year’s event with Madeleine Albright saw around 1,200 women, while in prior years, the event averaged around 650.

“Most who were here came to be with their friends,” Block said. “It’s a night out with the women and no kids, and all that still happened. There was great energy in the room. Of course it wasn’t ideal, but the whole situation worked out as best as it could.”

Jewish community activist Carol Saal, who was honored with the Judith Chapman Memorial Women’s Leadership Award, gave a speech that moved many. Palo Alto’s Saal, who grew up in a “very traditional family and food-centric Italian Catholic family,” spoke about her journey to Judaism.

“I realized I had become truly Jewish when I realized I would be greatly relieved if my children married Jews,” she said.

Saal dedicated her award to her daughter Jessica, who died last year at age 34.

When Steinem began her remarks, she explained her decision as exerting her own power of one, to stand up for what she believed in.

That was enough explanation for some, like Heidi Winig of Oakland, who attended at the invitation of a friend of hers who was a table captain.

There was no picket line when Winig arrived. But when she heard Steinem’s explanation, “I felt like she did the right thing, and that I should have done the right thing.”

Winig said that she completely supported Steinem’s choice, and was greatly inspired by her talk.

Some others were less inspired.

Table captain Beverly Ripps of San Francisco said she had sold the event to her friends largely as a chance to hear Steinem.

“Given the amount of work and dedication and devotion that all of these people put into this event,” Ripps felt let down by her Steinem’s choice, she said.

Steinem attended a breakfast at the JCF building the following morning. She admitted the organization was put in a difficult position.

“It’s not the federation’s fault and it’s not the union’s fault,” said Steinem. “It’s the Hilton’s fault. They are the ones who have been intransigent on issues of health care and are not negotiating.”