WASHINGTON, D.C. — Recent reporting confirms that migrants are being subjected to inhumane conditions at detention centers run by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agency. Furthermore, an investigation by ProPublica revealed abhorrent online behavior of CBP agents targeting both women and people of color with hostile and derogatory remarks. NOW stands against the mistreatment of migrants and condemns the pervasive culture of sexism and racism at CBP. We call for these cruel policies and detention centers to end.  

The CBP has the lowest percentage of women on their force out of any federal law enforcement agency. This troubling fact clearly manifests itself in the misogynistic and racist behavior exhibited by CBP agents. Additional reports from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ visit to these centers demonstrate an extremely troubling environment and a toxic culture. If these agents treat Congressional representatives with cruelty and disdain, one can only imagine how terribly migrants are treated. 

The United States must be held to a higher standard. Women of color have been the targets of sexist and racist abuse for too long and it must stop. NOW stands with immigrants. We stand with people of color. And we stand with women. CBP must be held accountable for their actions.  

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745

WASHINGTON, D.C. – From protecting women’s reproductive health and equal pay, to immigration reform and the importance of the female vote in the upcoming elections, women’s issues are dominating headlines every single day. Next month in Minnesota, the National Organization for Women (NOW)  will hold its annual conference, with events revolving around this year’s theme: “Feminist Agenda Rising: Our Time is Now.” NOW and its members will come together and discuss how to tackle the most important issues confronting women today across all races and in all communities.  

Several key speakers are scheduled, including a featured presentation by comedian and Daily Show Co-founder Lizz Winstead. Additional speakers include:    

• Toni Van Pelt, President of the National Organization for Women (NOW)  
• Christian F. Nunes, Vice President of NOW   
• Sarah Deer, Professor, University of Kansas’ Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies  
• Hala Ayala, State Delegate for Virginia  
• Carol Jenkins, Co – President and CEO of the ERA Coalition/Fund for Women’s Equality  
• Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein, Assistant Majority Leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives  
• U.S. Representative Angie Craig, Minnesota’s Second Congressional District  
• Rebecca Lucero, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Rights  
• Senator Pat Spearman, Nevada District 1 and leader of the ERA ratification effort  
• Eleanor Smeal, Co-founder of the Feminist Majority, former president of the NOW and publisher of Ms. magazine  
•  Meggie Wittorf, Executive Director of Women Winning  
• Freda Williams Mckee, President of the Missouri State Chapter of NOW  
• Julie Blaha, Minnesota state auditor  
• Debbie Goettel, Commissioner for Hennepin County, District 5  
• Erin Maye Quade, Gender Justice Advocate  

 NOW is pleased to honor the following women at the conference for their work as advocates for women’s issues: 

• Farah Tanis, Woman of Action Award  
• Dr. Alice Mann, Victoria J. Mastrobuono Award for Women’s Health Honoree  
• Erin Murphy, Woman of Courage Award  
• Lizz Winstead, Woman of Impact Award  
• Alice Cohan, Lifetime Achievement Award  
• Catharine A. Mackinnon, Woman of Vision Award  

 WHAT:  NOW’s Annual Conference – The full conference agenda is available here. 

 WHEN:  July 19-21, 2019  

 WHERE: Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Mall of America ,  3800 American Blvd. E, Bloomington, MN 55425   

 SOCIAL MEDIA:  Follow us: Via Facebook (@NationalNOW), and Twitter (@NationalNOW, and Instagram (@NationalNOW) and interact with us about the conference using #NOWCon2019  

MEDIA CONTACT: Members of the media who wish to attend NOW’s annual conference in Minnesota, please contact Kimberly Hayes at press@now.org and include your name, title, news outlet and contact information.  You will receive a separate email regarding the status of your credential request closer to the conference.   

Additional information about the conference is available at: https://now.org/conference/ 

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About NOW  

As the grassroots arm of the women’s movement, the National Organization for Women is dedicated to its multi-issue and multi-strategy approach to women’s rights and is the largest organization of feminist grassroots activists in the United States. NOW has hundreds of chapters and hundreds of thousands of members and activists in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since our founding in 1966, NOW’s purpose is to take action through intersectional grassroots activism to promote feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate discrimination, and achieve and protect the equal rights of all women and girls in all aspects of social, political, and economic life.  

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745

Statement from NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

Democracy won a big victory at the U.S Supreme Court when Donald Trump’s attempt to add a citizenship question to the U.S. Census was defeated.  But trust in this core document of our democracy has already been eroded. Scores of immigrants got the message that the census was going to be a vehicle for disenfranchising communities of color. 

We need to rebuild trust in the census, reach out to immigrant communities and reassure them that they can participate in the census without fear. And we must demand that the Commerce Department and the Census Bureau respect this decision and go ahead with printing census forms without the discriminatory citizenship question. 

But Donald Trump has never met a settled law he didn’t want to overturn, if it suits his purpose.  

In a tweet sent from Japan, Donald Trump said he’s asked his lawyers if the constitutionally mandated census can be delayed to accommodate his anti-immigrant agenda.  He wants more time to build a legal case that will put the matter back before the Supreme Court this October. 

We know that the reason Donald Trump wants to add this question is because it will depress Hispanic voting power and boost that of white Republicans. Legal experts are now predicting that we could see a rare September do-over where John Roberts finds a way to change his vote. 

NOW will not let our guard down until this discriminatory, dangerous measure is finally, definitively, defeated. We will stand up for full representation, and demand that the U.S. Census count every person in America—not just the ones Republicans want to vote. 

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745