National Organization for Women

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Amy Goodman and her documentary “Steal This Story, Please!” are coming to Florida!

Amy Goodman has spent decades doing some of the most consistent and fearless independent journalism in the country. As the co-founder and host of Democracy Now!, she has reported from the ground on wars, uprisings, environmental crises, and movements for justice around the world, often covering what others won’t.

Early in her career, she reported on the East Timor independence struggle, where she and her colleagues were beaten by soldiers while documenting a massacre, and years later, she was arrested while covering protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Her work has earned major recognition, including the Right Livelihood Award and the George Polk Award. She is one of my feminist heroes, and someone I have been watching every morning for many years, learning from the way she listens, questions power, and creates space for voices that are sidelined.

Her new documentary, Steal This Story, Please!, is coming to Florida as part of a national tour, and she will be there in person for the screening. The Tampa event will take place on June 5 at Sun-Ray Cinema and includes a live Q&A with Goodman and the filmmakers. The film offers a deeper look at her life and work, following her reporting over the years while reflecting on the role of independent media in this moment. I’m glad this screening is happening here in Florida and creating space for people to come together around this work. I’m really looking forward to hearing her speak directly!

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Florida NOW Denounces Governor’s Signing of Anti DEI and Anti Climate Bills as an Attack on Local Democracy and Civil Rights

For Immediate Release: May 1, 2026 President Julie Kent, Florida NOW

 ORLANDO, FL — Florida NOW strongly condemns Governor Ron DeSantis’s signing of SB 1134 and HB 1217 on April 22, 2026, banning Florida cities and counties from funding diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and from adopting net-zero carbon emissions policies.

[Read more…]

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FL NOW Condemns Florida’s Escalating Abortion Restrictions and Calls for Immediate Protection of Reproductive Freedom

For Immediate Release: May 1, 2026  President Julie Kent, Florida NOW,

Six‑week ban, criminalization threats, and shrinking access endanger the health and autonomy of millions of Floridians

Orlando, FL — [May 2026] — The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) is sounding the alarm as Florida’s abortion restrictions intensify, creating one of the most dangerous and inaccessible reproductive‑health landscapes in the country. With the six‑week abortion ban now in effect and additional restrictions advancing through state agencies and courts, FL NOW warns that pregnant Floridians are facing unprecedented barriers to timely, safe, and medically necessary care.

“Florida’s escalating abortion restrictions are not about health — they are about control,” said Julie Kent, President of FL NOW. “A six‑week ban is a near‑total ban. It denies people the ability to make decisions about their own bodies, their families, and their futures. These policies are putting lives at risk.”

Under the current law, most Floridians do not even know they are pregnant before abortion becomes illegal. Providers report widespread confusion, delayed care, and fear among patients who are unsure whether they can legally receive treatment for pregnancy complications. Advocates warn that the restrictions have already led to:

  • Death of women with pregnancy complications
  • Delays in emergency care
  • Patients being turned away until their conditions worsen
  • Increased travel out of state
  • Heightened risks for survivors of violence
  • Disproportionate harm to Black, Brown, rural, and low‑income communities

“These laws are forcing doctors to choose between their medical training and the threat of prosecution,” Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW said. “No one should have to wait until they are hemorrhaging or near death to receive care. Republican White Men in power continue to attack and reduce women’s rights.”

FL NOW also notes that Florida’s abortion restrictions are unfolding alongside rising maternal mortality rates, especially among Black women, and a growing exodus of OB‑GYNs from the state. The organization warns that the combined effect is a collapsing reproductive‑health system that leaves pregnant people with fewer options and greater danger.

“Florida cannot claim to value life while simultaneously creating conditions that endanger pregnant people,” Deland said. “Reproductive freedom is a fundamental human right. These escalating restrictions violate that right and undermine the health and dignity of women.”

FL NOW is calling for immediate statewide action, including:

  • Restoration of meaningful access to abortion care
  • Protection for healthcare providers who act in the best interests of their patients
  • Clear, medically grounded standards for emergency care
  • Investment in maternal health, especially for communities facing the highest risks
  • Legislative and judicial accountability for policies that endanger pregnant Floridians

“Floridians deserve compassion, autonomy, and evidence‑based healthcare,” Kent said. “FL NOW will continue to fight — in every county, every courtroom, and every legislative chamber — until reproductive freedom is fully restored.”

Media Contact: Debbie Deland, 407 234-6408, vp@flnow.org