Home Campaign badges

Campaign badges

Object

Badge

Production date

1985

Object number

2008.106

Physical Description

These badges were made to support a number of seperate campaigns, from anti-smoking to Pink Fluffy Bunnies Against the Nazis.

The pink badge on the top left protests at the suspension of Dr. Wendy Savage from the London Hospital in 1985 following allegations of clinical incompetence in her obstetric work. The resulting high-profile inquiry brought public and professional support for Savage, who was later cleared of the charges and reinstated.

Hackney Health Emergency was a campaigning group set up by the Trades Council, the Community Health Council and the Borough Council in response to the planned closures of St Matthews Hospital, St Johns Hospital, St Leonards Hospital, the German Hospital and the Mothers hospital (see also 1991.15 and 1994.12).

Associated Organisation

Material

Metal

Dimension

height (Whole): 4mm
diameter (whole): 28mm

Exhibition Label

From 'Hackney Museum: Making Her Mark: 100 years of women’s activism in Hackney'

Hackney Abortion Campaign (HAC) fought for the right of women to choose if and when she has a child. They campaigned against forced sterilisation, called for freely available contraception, and for abortions to be available locally on the NHS.

In 1977 Hackney Council arranged for housing for homeless young pregnant women to be provided by ‘Let Live’, an anti-abortion charity that had been found to give biased advice. The HAC gathered around 150 people to protest outside council meetings, and the council overturned their decision.

When in 1977 William Benyon introduced a bill to amend the Abortion Act, HAC campaigned against it and picketed outside the MP’s London home. After eight months of public debate the bill was defeated.
From 'Hackney Museum: Making Her Mark: 100 years of women’s activism in Hackney'

Hackney Abortion Campaign (HAC) fought for the right of women to choose if and when she has a child. They campaigned against forced sterilisation, called for freely available contraception, and for abortions to be available locally on the NHS.

In 1977 Hackney Council arranged for housing for homeless young pregnant women to be provided by ‘Let Live’, an anti-abortion charity that had been found to give biased advice. The HAC gathered around 150 people to protest outside council meetings, and the council overturned their decision.

When in 1977 William Benyon introduced a bill to amend the Abortion Act, HAC campaigned against it and picketed outside the MP’s London home. After eight months of public debate the bill was defeated.
From the exhibition '1980s People Power: The Campaign for St Leonard's Hospital' [21 March - 15 July 2023]

Hackney Health Emergency

Hackney Health Emergency’s main aims were to stop the closure of St Leonard’s Hospital, ensure local people had adequate healthcare including emergency care, and hospital staff’s jobs were protected.

The campaign was organised by Hackney Health Emergency members, local trade unions, political parties and local residents. In February 1983, 85% of GPs in Hackney declared they were against closures because of the impact it would have on local healthcare provisions.

The campaign produced badges, stickers, placards, banners, posters and other items like those shown here for people to show their support for the cause.

On display?

No

Inscription

1. Pink Fluffy Bunnies Against the Nazis
2. Nurses for Unity in the Community
3. I Love Hackney
5 Hackney Health Emergency
6 Poll Tax
7 I Love the NHS
8 Wendy is best Investigate the rest
9 You Smoke - I Choke
10 Labour Abortion Rights Campaign Defeat Benyon's Bill