Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

The Trump Administration is scheduled to announce its plan to deliver on one of Donald Trump’s signature campaign promises—defunding Planned Parenthood. But that’s not the only harm the new federal rule would cause for women.

Donald Trump wants to change the Title X federal family program to deny federal funding to any clinic that provides abortions or refers patients to places that do—a transparent move directly aimed at Planned Parenthood. Of course, Planned Parenthood doesn’t use any federal funds for abortion—but to Donald Trump, groups that provide essential reproductive care to women are political footballs he can use to score points with his extremist base.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, thousands of other health care providers, mainly community health centers, would struggle to handle the increase in patients if Planned Parenthood had to turn them away. Planned Parenthood operates the sole clinic offering comprehensive contraceptive services in 105 counties in the U.S.

According to a new Quinnipiac poll, 62 percent of voters oppose cutting Planned Parenthood’s funding, while 31 percent are in favor of doing so. And 70 percent of Americans support Roe v. Wade, while 26 percent disagree with the court’s decision.

The Trump administration’s decision to cut funding to Title X highlights its’ complete and utter disregard for women, particularly women of color, uninsured women and low-income individuals. These new provisions not only strip women of their access to crucial reproductive services, its strips them of their autonomy and their right to choose.

NOW opposes this heartless and harmful rule, and we will oppose candidates in the coming election who are complicit in denying women their reproductive care rights. We proudly stand with Planned Parenthood and urge all those who support women’s rights to do the same.

Contact

Dee Donavanik, press@now.org, 951-547-1241

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

The horrific claims of sexual violence made by four women against Eric Schneiderman have led to his resignation as New York attorney general, but more needs to happen if women are to feel safe.

“The fact that Eric Schneiderman resigned within hours of the credible allegations against him demonstrates the strength of the public reckoning we are in the midst of – an era of unchecked misogyny is ending,” said Sonia Ossorio, president of National Organization for Women – New York. “Abusive men like Eric Schneiderman will be held accountable. We owe a debt of gratitude to the courageous women who came forward to expose him.”

The National Organization for Women is demanding that the New York state legislature should appoint a woman with a strong record of protecting women from sexual predators to replace Eric Schneiderman. This is not politics as usual, and the stale, male, usual choice won’t do this time. We need an attorney general who will begin her job knowing exactly what to do to support and protect women. Enough is Enough.

Contact

Dee Donavanik, press@now.org, 951-547-1241

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

The National Organization for Women (NOW) supports the call to #MuteRKelly and we add our voices to our sisters’ inspiring call to action. We join with the Time’s Up Women of Color who are calling for R. Kelly’s record label, concert producers and related music industry companies to cut ties with the singer, who has faced multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, statutory rape, aggravated assault, child pornography and imprisonment of women under threats of violence, among other charges.

The National Organization of Women (NOW) supports this call to #MuteRKelly. As Time’s Up Women of Color wrote in their open letter,

“The recent court decision against Bill Cosby is one step towards addressing these ills but it is just a start. We call on people everywhere to join with us to insist on a world in which women of all kinds can pursue their dreams free from sexual assault, abuse and predatory behavior.”

R. Kelly has been accused of horrific acts of sexual abuse going back two decades or more—and yet the entertainment industry has continually enabled and supported him. Enough is Enough, R. Kelly! And time’s up as well for an industry that overlooks sexual assault in the interest of profit.

Enough with the culture of sexual violence. NOW calls for an independent, thorough investigation of R. Kelly’s criminal acts, and an industry-wide reckoning to stop abetting sexual predators and start prioritizing respect for women.

Contact

Dee Donavanik, press@now.org, 951-547-1241