Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

Donald Trump’s State of the Union address was notable for what he didn’t say. He didn’t address any of the issues that matter to women. In Donald Trump’s America, a president doesn’t need to care about women’s health, pay equity or gender equality. Donald Trump turned his speech into another episode of the reality TV show that is his presidency. He brought in special guests, made dramatic pronouncements from the podium, hyped his accomplishments and lied about his record. Once again, we saw the real Donald Trump—a braggart, a bully, a pretender who has no patience for serious subjects and no interest in solving urgent problems.

We didn’t hear a word of real leadership from Donald Trump, but this November, Donald Trump will hear us. We have a message for Donald Trump.

You can’t stop us with your tweets. You can’t stop is with your bullying and you can’t stop is with your hate speech. We’re marching to the polls in November, and Donald Trump, we’re voting against you.

Contact

Emily Imhoff, press@now.org, 951-547-1241

Last weekend’s Women’s March was a big event in Washington, DC. All the national media was there, and the program was broadcast live on C-Span.

As you know, Toni Van Pelt was one of the featured speakers, and she spoke powerfully and from the heart. The reporter from Politico who was covering the March quoted Toni:

“Today we’re sending Trump another message, look out your window,” Toni Van Pelt, president of the National Organization for Women, told marchers in Washington. “See us, hear us, feel our power. You can’t stop us with your tweets, you can’t stop us with your bullying and you can’t stop us with your hate speech.”

For the full story in Politico, click here. And here’s a clip of her full speech.

This Tuesday, during Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech, Toni will be joining leaders of other women’s groups at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, at an event called the State of Our Union to showcase plans to unite, organize, and vote for a better future. We’re keeping the pressure on Donald Trump, and speaking our truth to power every chance we get!

Contact

Emily Imhoff, press@now.org, 951-547-1241

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

Forty-five years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that the constitutional right to privacy extends to a woman’s right to make her own personal medical decisions.

Today, Donald Trump and Mike Pence are determined to repeal Roe and turn back the clock on abortion, putting women’s lives at risk.

Abortion care is health care, and women’s health care is a human right. When Donald Trump took office, we took to the streets to march and raise our voices in defense of our rights. One year later, our cause is just as great, and our voices just as strong.

The threat to Roe may be one Supreme Court vacancy away. But in the states, extremist laws that mandate harmful, medically-unnecessary restrictions on abortion are already proliferating. And extremist anti-choice Republicans in Congress are pushing laws that will restrict access to safe and legal abortion and threaten abortion providers with jail.

We must tell Donald Trump and the Republican Congress to respect the law of the land. Women need Roe, and today, Roe needs us.

Contact

Emily Imhoff, press@now.org, 951-547-1241