The Group of 35

The group developed in London, England in 1971, rallying around a 35-year-old Refusenik, Raissa Palatnik, who had been imprisoned in the Soviet Union without a trial. The protesters were made up of approximately 35 young mothers, all around the age of 35.

The movement was brought to Montreal by Andrea Bronfman, who organized an activist group of local women to rally on behalf of the Refuseniks. Wendy Litwack-Eisen, Elaine Dubow-Harris and Barbara Stern were key figures in the organization. Another close ally was Irwin Cotler, who had helped Natan Sharansky escape from the Soviet Union after being held prisoner for nine years.

The Group of 35 dedicated their time to the Refusenik cause by staging demonstrations and writing letters. Indeed, Soviet expatriates note that these women were both courageous and effective, bombarding Soviet embassies and ambassadors with pleas and protests, as well as clandestinely helping Refusenik families behind the Iron Curtain. The Group of 35 also spearheaded a 1987 rally in Washington DC that drew hundreds of thousands of protesters and is believed to have been a turning point in the Refuseniks finally being allowed to emigrate.

Learn more: 

http://jewishtoronto.com/wendyspeech
http://www.cjnews.com/uncategorized/reunion-group-35-planned