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5 Things to Be Thankful for on Women’s Equality Day

Original Publication: SELF By Zahra Barnes

NOW President Toni Van Pelt tells SELF: “This Women’s Equality Day—and every day—I am grateful for grassroots activists across the country. Feminists working in their communities have been at the heart of every major victory women have achieved: sending women of color to Congress, securing marriage equality, defeating this summer’s monstrous health care bill, and so much more. Knocking on doors and calling members of Congress isn’t glamorous, but it drives real, meaningful change for women. Whether they have been working hard for decades or were called to action after the 2016 election, these women know the future is female. I am humbled every day by their fierce dedication.”

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NOW Applauds Oregon Gov. Kate Brown for Signing Groundbreaking Reproductive Rights Legislation

Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt

The National Organization for Women applauds Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon, who yesterday signed the nation’s most progressive reproductive health legislation into law.

Oregon’s Reproductive Health Equity Act creates groundbreaking safeguards against the tide of anti-choice legislation sweeping the nation–ensuring that every Oregonian will have comprehensive access to reproductive care regardless of their income, citizenship status, or gender identity.

Under this law, Oregonians will be guaranteed:

  • Insurance coverage for reproductive health services, at no cost to them–including abortion, contraception, vasectomies, maternity care, and STI and cancer screenings
  • The right to abortion care, in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned
  • Protection from discrimination in the healthcare system based on their citizenship status or gender identity

This bill is a shining example of the incredible things that can happen when women are elected to public office. Gov. Kate Brown was key to achieving this amazing victory. Moving forward, we will set our sights not only on securing comprehensive reproductive healthcare across the country, but also on electing more feminist champions like her.

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

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Charlottesville White Supremacists Are On the Wrong Side of History

Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt

The white supremacists who launched a brutal protest against the city of Charlottesville, Virginia’s plan to remove a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee must be held to account for their violence and hate speech, says Toni Van Pelt, president of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

“Robert E. Lee was on the wrong side of history and so are the Charlottesville racists,” says Toni Van Pelt. “The majority of Virginia voters—like the majority of voters across the U.S., voted for the presidential candidate who defended inclusion over intolerance, healing over division and fairness over bigotry. NOW stands with our courageous sisters and brothers in Charlottesville, who are standing strong against hate and violence.”

NOW has always been committed to eradicating racism. In NOW’s original Statement of Purpose, the group’s founders wrote, “We realize that women’s problems are linked to many broader questions of social justice; their solution will require concerted action by many groups. Therefore, convinced that human rights for all are indivisible, we expect to give active support to the common cause of equal rights for all those who suffer discrimination and deprivation.”

Today’s violent march follows an evening “Unite the Right” rally at the University of Virginia where hate-filled rhetoric from Ku Klux Klan members and other alt-right activists was directed at African Americans, immigrants, and Jewish people.

Charlotte Gibson, president of Charlottesville NOW, said, “The white nationalists, neo-Nazis, armed militias and alt-right extremists who came to Charlottesville and tried to hijack democracy today will not succeed. Their rhetoric is never acceptable in a civilized society, and their embrace of violence must never be tolerated.”

“Donald Trump’s personal reliance on the language of confrontation, combat and intolerance has alarmed us all in recent days,” says Toni Van Pelt. “Trump may be sending signals and cues to those who would harm peaceful protesters, but the people of Charlottesville are standing up to Trump-inspired bullying and inspiring us all.”

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

Florida NOW

Florida 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.

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