Florida NOW

National Organization for Women

Donate Join, Re-Join or Renew

Current Action Alerts

by

NOW Celebrates Intersectional Feminists This Women’s History Month

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Throughout Women’s History Month, and especially on International Women’s Day, NOW celebrates the women past and present who risked everything and worked tirelessly for women’s rights. They countered attacks on the constitutional right to equality for women in the United States and rallied to secure the right to vote. But as we prepare to celebrate the historic 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment this year, we recognize that many women of color continue to face barriers to the ballot box even now.   

While we are celebrating a centennial of progress, we recognize there is still much work to be done.  We must continue following in the footsteps of the incredible women who came before us and advocate for intersectional feminism that ensures that we are making progress towards securing a more equitable society for all women.  

NOW is also spending this month honoring our “Sheros” on social media @NationalNOW, including celebrating the life of Katherine Johnson, a leader of the group of brilliant women mathematicians who landed Apollo 11 on the moon. We also continue to applaud the work of the incredible intersectional feminists of the 116th Congress, who have been vital in the progress of the Equal Rights Amendment.  

This Women’s History Month, we recognize all the women who have and will continue to champion rights for all women in our society. 

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary , press@now.org , 202-570-4745

by

Supreme Court Hears Case That Could Decide Future of Roe

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt

WASHINGTON, D.C.— When Justice Anthony Kennedy retired from the U. S. Supreme Court, Donald Trump made a deal with religious conservatives.  He promised to nominate a fifth vote against abortion rights in return for their continued blind devotion and campaign contributions.

This week, anti-abortion extremists stand to collect.  The Court will hear the case of June Medical Services v. Russo—a challenge to a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.  The case is virtually identical to a Texas law the Court struck down in 2016—with the crucial fifth vote cast by Justice Kennedy.  

But with Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh on the Court, access to abortion care is on the brink of annihilation. Women are mobilizing to defend Roe at every turn, and around every corner.  We are at the Supreme Court today to oppose laws like this, which are medically unnecessary and dangerous as they increase the risk of abortion clinic violence.  These laws are designed not to protect women’s health, but rather to expand the power of religious conservatives and other extremists to dictate the most personal health decisions of women. 

A wave of hospital mergers are increasingly changing the landscape of community health care from one determined by best medical practices to one set by dogma from the Catholic Church. While the number of secular hospitals fell between 2001 and 2016, the number of Catholic hospitals rose by 22 percent. Many communities of color, underprivileged and lower-income communities only have a Catholic hospital, and for women who can’t travel elsewhere, many kinds of reproductive care are out of reach.  

 From June Medical Services to the challenge of Catholic hospital mergers, women are mobilizing.  Women are marching.  Women are speaking out. 

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary , press@now.org , 202-570-4745

by

NOW Strongly Supports the Women’s Health Protection Act

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NOW is a strong supporter of the Women’s Health Protection Act, and we applaud Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.) for their leadership.  Today, Rep. Eshoo will chair a hearing entitled “Protecting Women’s Access to Reproductive Health Care”—adding another milestone to this already historic record of the 116th Congress. 

In testimony I submitted for today’s hearing, I said: 

“We know that this campaign against women’s access to reproductive health care has nothing to do with promoting women’s health and safety but is about controlling women and their bodies. Misogyny clearly plays a part. It is hard to believe that in the 21st century, in the wealthiest nation in the world, with all of our medical advances that these restrictions on vital health care needs have been allowed to persist.” 

NOW proudly stands behind Rep. Eshoo, her colleagues, and today’s witnesses as they bear witness to the need for a statutory protection for access to abortion care free from medically unnecessary limits and bans. 

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary , press@now.org , 202-570-4745

Florida NOW

Florida NOW’s purpose is to take action through intersectional grassroots activism to promote feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate discrimination, and achieve and protect the equal rights of all women and girls.

Learn more about us.

Contact

E-Mail
web@flnow.org

Social