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Tell Texas Governor: Coronavirus Is No Excuse to Advance Your Anti-Abortion Agenda

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt

03.26.2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Anti-abortion extremists are using the COVID-19 pandemic to accomplish what they can’t get done in the courts—a total ban on abortion care.  More than 50 anti-abortion groups have written to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar calling on public health officials to tell abortion providers to cease and desist operations during this crisis. 

Texas is ground zero for this frightening display of politics and religious extremism over health care and women’s rights. Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have issued a directive to ban nearly all abortion services that they arbitrarily and ignorantly deem “unnecessary.” As a result, hundreds of patients seeking critical care are facing cancellations and delays that can put their health and safety at risk.   

National NOW and Texas NOW are encouraging our members in the state to call the offices of the governor and attorney general in protest of this gross abuse of citizens’ rights. NOW also strongly supports a lawsuit filed by Texas abortion providers to ensure that patients can continue to access their constitutional right to essential, time-sensitive abortion services during the COVID-19 epidemic.  As our nation faces the most serious medical crisis in over a century, now is the time to expand health care access, not take it away. 

Contact

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

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NOW Celebrates Intersectional Feminists This Women’s History Month

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Throughout Women’s History Month, and especially on International Women’s Day, NOW celebrates the women past and present who risked everything and worked tirelessly for women’s rights. They countered attacks on the constitutional right to equality for women in the United States and rallied to secure the right to vote. But as we prepare to celebrate the historic 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment this year, we recognize that many women of color continue to face barriers to the ballot box even now.   

While we are celebrating a centennial of progress, we recognize there is still much work to be done.  We must continue following in the footsteps of the incredible women who came before us and advocate for intersectional feminism that ensures that we are making progress towards securing a more equitable society for all women.  

NOW is also spending this month honoring our “Sheros” on social media @NationalNOW, including celebrating the life of Katherine Johnson, a leader of the group of brilliant women mathematicians who landed Apollo 11 on the moon. We also continue to applaud the work of the incredible intersectional feminists of the 116th Congress, who have been vital in the progress of the Equal Rights Amendment.  

This Women’s History Month, we recognize all the women who have and will continue to champion rights for all women in our society. 

Contact

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

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Supreme Court Hears Case That Could Decide Future of Roe

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt

WASHINGTON, D.C.— When Justice Anthony Kennedy retired from the U. S. Supreme Court, Donald Trump made a deal with religious conservatives.  He promised to nominate a fifth vote against abortion rights in return for their continued blind devotion and campaign contributions.

This week, anti-abortion extremists stand to collect.  The Court will hear the case of June Medical Services v. Russo—a challenge to a Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.  The case is virtually identical to a Texas law the Court struck down in 2016—with the crucial fifth vote cast by Justice Kennedy.  

But with Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh on the Court, access to abortion care is on the brink of annihilation. Women are mobilizing to defend Roe at every turn, and around every corner.  We are at the Supreme Court today to oppose laws like this, which are medically unnecessary and dangerous as they increase the risk of abortion clinic violence.  These laws are designed not to protect women’s health, but rather to expand the power of religious conservatives and other extremists to dictate the most personal health decisions of women. 

A wave of hospital mergers are increasingly changing the landscape of community health care from one determined by best medical practices to one set by dogma from the Catholic Church. While the number of secular hospitals fell between 2001 and 2016, the number of Catholic hospitals rose by 22 percent. Many communities of color, underprivileged and lower-income communities only have a Catholic hospital, and for women who can’t travel elsewhere, many kinds of reproductive care are out of reach.  

 From June Medical Services to the challenge of Catholic hospital mergers, women are mobilizing.  Women are marching.  Women are speaking out. 

Contact

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

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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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