Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON– Last night proved that voters were more determined than ever to elect feminists to positions of leadership, but women’s rights are still being threatened and we have more work to do. Though voters in Oregon had the good sense to defeat a ballot initiative which would have prohibited the use of public funds to pay for abortion services, reproductive justice is still under attack. In West Virginia and in Alabama, voters have passed dangerous ballot initiatives which will preemptively criminalize abortion.

These measures threaten the lives of women. Not only do they open the door to banning abortion, but they will criminalize the act of receiving or providing abortion with a potential jail sentence. For many women, access to abortion will become increasingly difficult without the ability to use the resources of Medicaid.

The National Organization for Women (NOW) and its members are more empowered than ever to keep defending a woman’s right to make her own choice about health care.

Together, we will continue demanding protections for women that include universal access to affordable health insurance coverage, broadly available sex education for middle and secondary school students, access to reproductive health care services for all girls and women, affordable insurance coverage for contraception and safe, legal abortion.

We will continue to strengthen support for survivors of sexual violence by demanding the DNA testing of thousands of rape evidence kits, the removal of statutes of limitation, and other legislation that will assure women’s safety at home, on the streets and at work.

Contact

NOW Press, press@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

Tonight, champions of women’s rights – including a record number of women candidates – won control of the House of Representatives.

Voters were more determined than ever to defend women’s rights at the ballot box and in the halls of Congress. Women voted for health care, for reproductive rights, for economic justice, and for gender equality.

The #MeToo movement, the Kavanaugh hearings and an avalanche of hate speech from Donald Trump and his acolytes made voting in this election a priority for women all across the country. Polls measured voter “enthusiasm” but that’s an inadequate term for how women felt about voting. We weren’t just enthusiastic about our vote—we were passionate, we were ferocious, we were relentless.

And we won.

NOW remains committed to electing more women to office, breaking glass ceilings, smashing conventional wisdom and shattering expectations. We are gratified by the election results and energized to work with a new Congress, with women in positions of leadership and women’s rights at the top of the agenda.

The record number of women candidates in this election was a historic milestone—but we are all trailblazers today. We are writing a new chapter in the history of our democracy, and charting a new path towards justice and equality.

We won’t be stopped. We won’t be intimidated. We won’t be defeated.

Contact

NOW Press, press@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

I have been amazed by the record-breaking participation by women in races at all levels across the country this midterm season. Now more than ever, women are poised to disrupt local, state, and federal elections and reach an all-time high of representation in elected office. As we celebrate these incredible achievements, it is important to remember and honor the sacrifices of our foremothers who paved the way for women today. Women like Shirley Chisholm, the first black candidate for a major party’s nomination for President of the United States and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.

A former educator, Shirley Chisholm worked her way up from State Legislator in New York to Member of the U.S. House of Representatives to Presidential Primary Candidate. Shirley Chisholm truly practiced what she preached. During her seven terms in Congress, Chisholm hired an all-female staff, half of whom were Black women. While serving in Congress she supported civil rights, women’s rights, social welfare programs and spoke out against the Vietnam War. She worked hard to support women’s rights to choose during pregnancy and sought to uplift women, especially Black women, up from restrictive gendered roles.

Chisholm started her Presidential campaign in 1972 and ran on a progressive platform that centered on prison reform, gun control, police brutality, and civil rights. It was an uphill battle, and despite her years of service to feminism and civil rights movement, she found little political support from white women or Black men. Many people were uncomfortable with the idea of supporting a Black woman candidate and her campaign was marred by racism and sexism. Despite these challenges, Chisholm did not let it dissuade her. While she would ultimately lose the election, she still garnered 152 delegates before withdrawing from the race. Chisholm continued to fight for equal rights in the House until her retirement in 1982.

Shirley Chisholm broke down racial and gender barriers in American politics and serves as an inspiration to the thousands of women running for office this year. Chisholm’s achievements were historic and paved the way for more people living at the intersections of several identities to find the courage to run for office. She is emblematic of the power that can be found in giving a voice to a diversity of people. We can honor Chisholm’s memory this election season by exercising our right to vote and supporting progressive candidates who, like Chisholm, want to create a better future by empowering women, people of color, LGBTQ people, low-income people, and immigrants.

Contact

NOW Press, press@now.org, 202-628-8669