Seven Feminists Arrested At White House Protest

WASHINGTON - Seven feminist leaders were arrested outside the White House today in a protest against President Bush and the Supreme Court's decision upholding some abortion restrictions.

Patricia Ireland, the president of National Organization for Women, former NOW President Eleanor Smeal and five others were handcuffed and led to a U.S. Park Police paddy wagon as hundreds of abortion-rights demonstrators in Lafayette Park cheered them on.

The seven women were arrested on the sidewalk outside the White House fence when they defied an order to leave.

Also taken into custody were: Urvashi Vaid of the National Gay/Lesbian Task Force; Kay Ostberg of the Human Rights Campaign Fund; Ruby Sayes of Women of All Colors; Jane Pennington of the Older Women's League and Aida Bound of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Smeal is now with the Feminist Majority Foundation