Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

The National Organization for Women (NOW) welcomes the opportunity to participate in the March for Black Women and the Racial Justice March. NOW believes that changing the culture that marginalizes, disparages and excludes women, particularly women of color, is our most important work.

We were distressed to learn that the March had been scheduled on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, a date this year that fell on a date of infamy for the African American community. When we first became aware of the Marches and the letter of apology for the scheduling conflict we thought long and hard about lifting up of all our communities as allies even when there is conflict and what that might mean for our members.

This is a very unfortunate coincidence and situation, one we did not take lightly when we decided to endorse and support the March for Black Women and the Racial Justice March. But if we have learned anything in 50 years of organizing for change, it is that every setback is an opportunity to regroup, learn, and rededicate ourselves to advancing the cause of women’s rights.

In a statement, March for Racial Justice has said, in part,

Choosing this date, we now know, was a grave and hurtful oversight on our part. It was unintentional and we are sorry for this pain as well as for the time it has taken for us to respond. Our mistake highlights the need for our communities to form stronger relationships.

After the horrifying events of the past weekend in Charlottesville, and the remarks by the President suggesting that “both sides” are to blame, we understand more than ever the need for unity against those who hate us in our many identities. We have learned from our Jewish friends that Yom Kippur is a day of making amends and of asking and receiving forgiveness. We hope that our sincere apology will be received with compassion, and that we will build a stronger relationship among all our communities as a result.

(For the full statement, click here)

After consulting with a wide range of our members, Jewish and allies of the Jewish community, NOW has decided to continue our participation in the March. We commend the organizers of the March for their willingness to make amends, and their thoughtfulness in addressing this fissure. This is why the concept and practice of intersectionality is so important. We must remember we have a common oppressor and that we experience oppression in different ways. NOW recommits to addressing all oppressions.

To our Jewish members and community please be assured your voices and grief have been heard. The message that NOW will deliver during the March for Racial Justice – that we must unpack racism, and take the needs of marginalized sisters seriously, must never be silenced. Our highest ideal is to find the path to work together with women – all women – despite the seemingly impossible challenges of doing so. We will prevail – together.

Contact
Laura Gross, lgross@scottcircle.com, 202-695-8223

Donald Trump is a White Supremacist, And Sexist Fox Sports Analyst Clay Travis Poisoned The Airwaves Slamming Harris and Other Women

Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

In an appearance on CNN Friday, Fox Sports Analyst Clay Travis was asked to comment on ESPN host Jemele Hill’s remarks calling Donald Trump a white supremacist. First of all, we agree 100% with Jemele Harris – Donald Trump is a white supremacist. Travis should have been fired for his racist, sexist remarks, but he couldn’t stop there.

During that interview with CNN’s Brooke Baldwin, Travis said, “I’m a First Amendment absolutist. I believe in only two things completely, the First Amendment and boobs.” He went on to say they were “two things that have never let me down.”

To her credit, Brooke Baldwin shut down the interview and ended the segment. But National Organization for Women President Toni Van Pelt says it’s now up to Fox to enforce decency standards that viewers should be able to expect from the nation’s broadcasters.

“Fox Sports must fire Clay Travis immediately,” says Toni Van Pelt. “His smug and appalling behavior has no place on the airwaves. Did he think he was being funny? No. He was being disrespectful.. Did he think he was just acting like a jock? No. He was acting like an idiot. Does he think he’s entitled to spew his vile language and amoral principles in our living rooms? Not for another minute.”

Contact
Laura Gross, lgross@scottcircle.com, 202-255-2054

Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

The National Organization for Women is proud to officially endorse the March for Black Women, and the March for Racial Justice (M4RJ). The events will take place concurrently, and in solidarity with one another, on September 30, 2017.

As our nation reels from Charlottesville, we have a responsibility as feminists to take action on behalf of racial equity and justice. Charlottesville did not happen in isolation; it was the culmination of a long history of policies, practices, and cultural values that continue to uphold white supremacy. People of color–particularly women–lose their lives and sacrifice their dignity every day as a result of this toxic system. Swift action is needed to begin healing the racism so deeply ingrained in the United States–and put an end to the steady stream of injustices people of color face.

On September 30, we will bear witness to these tragedies, and demand racial justice. We are proud to share the vision for the march identified by M4RJ organizers: “to create a just and equitable future for communities of color, so that we may all thrive together.” And we are especially proud to support the creation of a healing space for Black women, who shoulder a disproportionate share of this burden.

Indeed, as the National Organization for Women, we support these marches because of the particular hatred women of color experience, as a result of both their race and their gender. But it’s more than that as well. As feminists we support the march because white supremacy pushes us all downward. The oppression of women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, disabled people, and other marginalized individuals are all wrapped up together–and rooted in the same source. Solidarity + action will drive change.

We will be in the streets of Washington, DC on September 30 and raising our voices, just as NOW’s founders did when they put racial justice in our original statement of purpose more than 50 years ago. I’m inviting NOW activists to join me on that day–in Washington, at a sister march, or in their hearts. And I’m inviting them to join me every day afterward, to keep taking action to dismantle white supremacy long after the march is done.

Contact
M.E. Ficarra, press@now.org, 951-547-1241