Released on June 3, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Organization for Women has signed on to a letter calling on the Department of Justice to open a full and thorough hate crime investigation into the horrific killing of Ahmaud Arbery, who was chased down and shot to death by armed vigilantes while peacefully jogging in a suburban Georgia neighborhood. 

Like the murder-by-police of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Ahmaud Arbery was targeted for being Black and victimized by a culture that gives permission to racial violence, especially when committed by individuals with a law enforcement background.  But unlike Minnesota, where Attorney General Keith Ellison, who has a consistent record in opposing police violence, is leading the investigation, Cobb County  District Attorney Joyette Holmes, the fourth prosecutor to be assigned to this case, identifies herself as a “proud conservative” and has political ties to Georgia’s controversial Republican governor, Brian Kemp. 

That’s why NOW has joined the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ and the Hate Crime Coalition’s call for a thorough investigation into the local district attorneys, as well as the Glynn County Police Department for their pattern of systemic constitutional abuses.   

There are too many families of the victims of police violence crying out for justice today.  Along with George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, there is also David McAtee and Breonna Taylor, both shot by police in Louisville in incidents that sparked national outrage.  All these families must see a full accounting for the legal system’s inherent racism, neglect, and contempt for communities of color. 

NOW stands with Black Lives Matter and other groups demanding racial justice, systemic change, and immediate reform and accountability.  

Justice delayed is justice denied.  Change must come now—it’s long overdue.  Hate must be driven out of our criminal justice system, and it must never come back. 

Contact: Press Team, press@now.org,

Released on May 27, 2020

WASHINGTON – The shocking video out of Minneapolis shows another black man, George Floyd, being brutalized by another white police officer as he kneels on the prostrate man’s neck, pressing the full weight of his body on his handcuffed, unarmed victim.  Mr. Floyd is seen gasping and crying out for help, shouting “I cannot breathe,” and “Don’t kill me!”  He then grows motionless, closes his eyes, and appears to stop breathing.  But still the officer keeps his knee pressed into Mr. Floyd’s neck. 

Meanwhile, other Minneapolis police officers stand by and do nothing to prevent this obscene instance of police violence.  But we can bear witness, and bear witness we must. 

Minnesota NOW joined a protest on Tuesday expressing the community’s outrage at this incident, which took place on Monday, Memorial Day.  NOW members across the country stand with Minnesotans who demand answers to the continued pattern of police violence, following the shooting death of Philando Castile in 2016.  The officer in that incident was acquitted of a second-degree manslaughter charge and two counts of dangerous discharge of a firearm. 

We demand justice for George Floyd, his family, and his community.  We demand that the names of the officers involved in this attack be released, and for those officers to be vigorously prosecuted, firing them is not enough. Police violence against unarmed black men must not be allowed to continue as “business as usual.”  That is not who we are.   

Released on May 15, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The $3 trillion coronavirus aid package to be voted on by the House today has been called a “Democratic wish list” and a “1,800-page press release” by Republican critics, with Mitch McConnell saying Congress should hit “pause” until after Memorial Day for further relief for American workers and families.  

But we can’t wait another day while the Senate plays politics with people’s lives. 

Speaker Pelosi’s legislation expands the Child Tax Credit and creates a new Young Child Tax Credit, sets a new national standard for paid sick days and paid family and medical leave, increases monthly Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by 15% and makes important investments and policy changes to protect critical services for survivors of domestic violence. 

It provides nearly $1 trillion for states, cities and tribal governments to avert layoffs of public sector workers like first responders, health workers, and teachers who have been left out of previous measures, and $200 billion to ensure that essential workers who have risked their lives during the pandemic receive hazard pay. 

The bill also extends unemployment benefits, sets a second round of direct payments to individuals, and protects the tens of millions of Americans who are losing employer-provided health insurance with COBRA subsidies and a special enrollment period in health exchanges for the uninsured. It also includes an important non-discrimination clause, prohibiting the denial of benefits based on factors including gender identity and immigration status. 

NOW is calling on our network of activists to tell their Senators to take off their blinders to the plight of Americans who are in real danger during this pandemic and take up the House bill without delay. 

Contact: Press Secretary, press@now.org,