House Votes on Deceptive Anti-Choice Bill on Anniversary of Dr. Tiller's Murder

For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal, 202-628-8669, ext. 116

House Votes on Deceptive Anti-Choice Bill
on Anniversary of Dr. Tiller's Murder
Statement of NOW President Terry O'Neill

May 31, 2012
Three years to the day since the murder of abortion provider and women's health activist Dr. George Tiller, irrational anti-abortion attacks continue. Today it is extremists in Congress seizing on sex-selection abortions overseas to bash U.S. women and their doctors.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted this afternoon on the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act or PRENDA (H.R. 3541), an anti-choice bill sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) that would criminalize sex-selection abortions and require health care professionals, including mental health professionals, to report any such abortion to the "appropriate law enforcement authorities."

National Organization for Women News: Paycheck Fairness, Abortion, 2012 Conference, Enough Rush

National Organization for Women: News & Action Summary MAY 30, 2012 IN THIS ISSUE: Paycheck Fairness Act: Time to Jam the Phones! Stop D.C. 20-Week Abortion Ban 2012 National NOW Conference Inappropriate Taser Use Endangers Women NOW Condemns House for Passage of H.R. 4970 Paycheck Fairness Act: Time to Jam the Phones! We expect a vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act in the coming weeks, and we need to make sure our senators hear from us now. We want to jam the phones to send a clear message of support for the Paycheck Fairness Act. Take Action NOW! Stop D.C. 20-Week Abortion Ban Radicals in the House recently held a hearing on on a dangerous new abortion ban for D.C. H.R. 3803 and its Senate companion would ban abortion care at 20 weeks for the capitol, imposing penalties and/or jail time on doctors who provide this necessary health care, even those stepping in to preserve a woman's health. Take action! 2012 National NOW Conference Energize! Organize! Stop the War on Women Friday 6/29 - Sunday 7/1 Baltimore, Maryland Eve Ensler will take the stage at the NOW Conference for a full hour on Friday, June 29. NOW is thrilled to have the author of the groundbreaking play The Vagina Monologues kicking off our 2012 conference. A number of truly inspiring women will speak throughout the weekend. These feminist champions have blazed trails for women in health and science, advanced economic justice for women, advocated for access to birth control, run for public office, and made headlines across the country for civil rights. Read more about all our speakers » Register online NOW, and sign up for conference email updates. The hotel is filling up fast, so make your reservations right away! Inappropriate Taser Use Endangers Women Law enforcement's use of Tasers has increased since the early 2000s. An estimated 15,000-plus law enforcement agencies now utilize them, and at least 500 people in the U.S. have died after being shocked. Standards for use are needed, particularly concerning pregnant women, the elderly and people with disabilities. Read more. NOW Condemns House for Passage of H.R. 4970 NOW condemns the May 16 passage of the House Republican version of the VAWA reauthorization bill (H.R. 4970). Sponsored by Representative Sandy Adams (R-Fla.), H.R. 4970 not only strips important provisions that were passed by a bipartisan Senate vote of 68-31, but also changes and weakens many initiatives and preventive provisions that have been included in VAWA by both Republicans and Democrats over the past 18 years. Read more. Activists Protest Against Rush in Phoenix Arizona NOW activists and allies protested in front of KFYI on Friday, May 18 against the Rush Limbaugh Show. Read more. Your support is absolutely vital to NOW's ability to take on the right wing and push ahead on all of our important issues. Please consider contributing and if you're not a member joining NOW. Take Back The American Dream Conference Join Terry at the Take Back the American Dream Conference on Tuesday, June 19 at 2 p.m., where she will be presenting at the War on Women breakout session. Learn more » FRESH FROM NOW'S BLOGS... Say It, Sister!: The Facts Behind the Call for Equal Pay Say It, Sister!: NOW Protests Local Radio Station Airing Rush Limbaugh Find more on NOW's Media Hall of Shame and Say It, Sister! NOW's Blog for Equality CONNECT WITH NOW ONLINE 2012 NOW/PAC Endorsed Candidates Visit the NOW/PAC website to see which candidates we've endorsed for the 2012 election cycle. Learn more » NOW READ THIS... Euro MPs back quotas to get more women into top jobs BBC What really lies behind the 'war on women' The Guardian The Girl Epidemic Huffington Post New Challenges to Obama's Contraception Law The Root Transgender at five Washington Post Washington doctor speaks out against ban on late-term abortions Washington Post 'The Avengers,' Strong Female Characters and Failing the Bechdel Test Fem2pt0 The Campaign Against Women NY Times "Leave women alone" act! Salon.com Read more on NOW Read This GET INVOLVED: Take Action | Join NOW | Find Your Nearest Chapter SUPPORT NOW: Support NOW's Work | Monthly Giving | Shop Amazon STAY CONNECTED: Say It, Sister! | The Media Hall of Shame | RSS | Twitter | Facebook

Islamophobia also equals pro-Nazi, anti-Jewish, anti-black, anti-women and homophobic activism

The following highlights something I have been saying all along - prejudice against one group is never contained with the need to oppress that group only; it always involves racism, sexism and other hateful acts.  If you think that over one billion people in the world - Muslims - are all the same, chances are you hate other minority groups in America and beyond.

For equality,

Jerin

From ThinkProgress:

Prominent Islamophobes Identified As 'Heading Up The Radical Right'

By Eli Clifton on May 24, 2012 at 10:20 am

Tell your Congressperson: We need a VAWA that includes input and recommendations from ADVOCATES IN THE FIELD!

From Pat Reuss of The National Organization for Women (NOW):

Please forward widely

May 29, 2012

Tell your Congressperson - get the Real VAWA to the President!

S. 1925 is the bill that health, law enforcement and service professionals – along with thousands of advocates in every state and community - contributed to and support.

Thank you to all of you who we know are working every day to get the real VAWA enacted!   Your work is paying off! 

Congress needs to keep hearing about VAWA!  NTF supports the enactment of S. 1925, the REAL VAWA.  The Senate bill includes your recommendations and the recommendations of thousands of victim services experts across the country and improves protections for victims.  The House bill includes dangerous provisions which fundamentally alter and weaken key tenets of VAWA and does not address the most urgent needs of victims.  It fundamentally changes the purpose of VAWA. Both bills will be brought to conference so that both the House and Senate leaders can agree on a bill to send to the President – we need to tell our legislators that they need to reject the exclusionary and harmful House bill and send S. 1925 to the President because it protects ALL victims.

ACTION 1:  There are significant differences in the Senate and House bill – and the NTF supports the Senate bill because it supports ALL survivors AND does not roll back existing protections in the law.  Please take action to urge your legislators to send S. 1925 to the President.

ACTION 2:  Your letters to the editor helped tremendously!  Keep them coming – send a letter to the editor today!

Sat, June 2: Queerocracy presents QRASH Course: Queers Resisting All Street Harassment

JUNE 2, 2012 | 1-5 PM

THE LGBT CENTER
208 West 13th Street (between 7th & 8th Ave)
Room 301

Join QUEEROCRACY at this training to resist street harassment of all forms!
The event is free of cost and open to everyone.

Next 48 hours: Time to Jam the the Senate Phones in support of equal pay!

It's go time!
For the next 48 hours NOW is joining forces with organizations across the country to turn up the heat on the Senate in support of equal pay.
What's the rush?
We expect a vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act in the coming weeks, and we need to make sure our senators hear from us now. For the next 48 hours (starting right now and throughout Tue and Wed), we want to jam the phones to send a clear message of support for the Paycheck Fairness Act.

The NY Times agrees: Republicans waging War on Women

Editorial 

The Campaign Against Women

Published: May 19, 2012

 

An excerpt:

Despite the persistent gender gap in opinion polls and mounting criticism of their hostility to women's rights, Republicans are not backing off their assault on women's equality and well-being. New laws in some states could mean a death sentence for a pregnant woman who suffers a life-threatening condition. But the attack goes well beyond abortion, into birth control, access to health care, equal pay and domestic violence.

 

Republicans seem immune to criticism. In an angry speech last month, John Boehner, the House speaker, said claims that his party was damaging the welfare of women were "entirely created" by Democrats. Earlier, the Republican National Committee chairman, Reince Priebus, sneered that any suggestion of a G.O.P. "war on women" was as big a fiction as a "war on caterpillars."

Whether this pattern of disturbing developments constitutes a war on women is a political argument. That women's rights and health are casualties of Republican policy is indisputable.

Posted by: Nicole Kubon

The Young Feminist Task Force is excited to be partnering with Paradigm Shift NYC on this exciting event.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/e/247090

 

There is still hope: Follow up with your Representative on Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Vote on H.R. 4970

From Pat Reuss of the National Organization for Women:

Please forward widely

May 17, 2012

Thank you for your extraordinary advocacy around VAWA's reauthorization and your work to defeat H.R. 4970, a bill that moves backward on VAWA reauthorization. Although the bill passed in the House, it was a divided and very close vote.  Our work is not done!  This will help to strengthen the voice of victims when the House and Senate bill are reconciled in the conference process and NTF will continue to work hard to get a VAWA that protects ALL victims. 

Now we must thank those who stood for and with victims of violence and express our disappointment in those who did not and voted to weaken VAWA.  We can look forward to the conference process, where we can push to ensure that the vote will more closely reflect the Senate passed S. 1925.    Please take the following actions – we have to keep the pressure up to get the best final bill we can!

Reflections of a Campus Activist: Campus 'Safety' Bill Endangers Rape Prosecutions

To add insult to the injury of the passing of anti-victim Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) H.R. 4970, I just read the following. 

From Women's eNews: Campus 'Safety' Bill Endangers Rape Prosecutions 

Some of you may know that I was one of two CUNY students to propose and help create the CUNY-wide-sexual-assault policy for all half-a-million students.  This proposed bill undermines all of that work.

 

NOW Condemns House for Passage of anti-victim Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) H.R. 4970

For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal, 202-628-8669, ext. 116

Statement of NOW President Terry O'Neill
May 16, 2012

The National Organization for Women condemns today's passage of H.R. 4970, the House Republican version of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization bill. Sponsored by Representative Sandy Adams (R-Fla.), H.R. 4970 not only strips important provisions that were passed by a bipartisan Senate vote of 68-31, but also changes and weakens many initiatives and preventive provisions that have been included in VAWA by both Republicans and Democrats over the past 18 years.

Extremists in the House may resent being called out for their War on Women, but their atrocious bill is part and parcel of it -- and women are not fooled by the attempts of H.R. 4970's supporters to characterize serious policy differences as mere election year politicking. Proponents of the Adams bill seemed more interested in railing against Washington bureaucrats and claiming (without evidence) rampant fraud by immigrant women who have been battered and raped, than they were about the plight of victims in desperate need of services and legal protections.

Their bill most assuredly is not about victims. The bill fundamentally undermines VAWA's 18-year history of victim-centered legislation by shielding perpetrators from accountability for their violent crimes, raising new hurdles to women escaping violent relationships, removing important college campus and housing improvements, rolling back provisions for culturally specific services currently in VAWA and turning its back on immigrant women and Native American and LGBT communities. Small wonder its proponents were not able to produce experts or professionals who support this bad bill.

Your calls/emails are working: Form letter to send to your Reps against anti-victim VAWA Bill

• A handful of Republicans are calling our side and asking for info and cover because they MIGHT vote against Adams. 
• Please copy and paste the great NOW letter below into an email and blind copy the emails of the e-addresses of the staff of the representatives in your state.  With just a note like “Alabama NOW opposes the Adams vawa bill – “ the national NOW letter does the rest of the work for you.  
• For those of you in the states listed below call the Republican offices listed…esp in Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio. 

3rd Annual New York Abortion Access Fund Bowl-a-thon

On Saturday April 29th, 2012 over 200 pro-choice New Yorkers gathered at Bowlmor Lanes near Union Square to strike down barriers to abortion access in the Third Annual New York Abortion Access Fund (NYAAF) bowl-a-thon. More than 40 teams joined together to raise over $73,000 for NYAAF, making us the #1 bowl-a-thon in the country!

Teams were creative in both names and costumes; names ranged from The Hunger Frames, The Ballin' Bowler-ina Grrrls, The RU 300’s, to The Abowlifacients, and many more. Teams consisted of co-workers, partners, best friends and children. Everyone came out to bowl on the 29th including NYAAF board members, NARAL Pro-Choice NY interns, PPNYC Activist Council Members, One Voice to Save Choice members, and NYAAF supporters.

Several of our very own NOW-NYS Young Feminist Task Force supported the bowl-a-thon, raised funds, bowled all day and had the wonderful opportunity to meet and mingle with other young feminists all over NYC.  Because of the funds raised through this bowl-a-thon NYAAF is able to continue to ensure abortion is safe, legal, accessible and FUNDED.

Tell Your Rep to Vote Against H.R. 4970, the Adams Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Bill

May 15, 2012
TAKE ACTION: The House of Representatives is expected to vote on Wednesday, May 16, for the Republican version of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4970), which not only eliminates important provisions included in the Senate-passed bipartisan bill (68-31, S. 1925), but contains new ones that would actually be dangerous to survivors of domestic violence while shielding abusers from accountability. The Republican leadership will not allow any floor amendments.
PLEASE CALL NOW - Call your House member as soon as possible to oppose H.R. 4970 (known as the Adams bill) and to urge that there be an open debate on the House floor with amendments permitted. NOW opposes H.R. 4970, and unless it can be amended to restore important protections, NOW will consider a vote for the bill to be a vote against VAWA and against victims of intimate partner violence and sexual assault.
Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, and ask for your representative's office. Or, you can look up the name and phone number of your representative right on NOW's website.

A VOTE FOR H.R. 4970 IS A VOTE AGAINST ALL VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE!

From Pat Reuss of the National Organization for Women, who has been fighting for VAWA since before it was passed.

Please forward to everyone you know who cares about ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking!

May 14, 2012

A VOTE FOR H.R. 4970 IS A VOTE AGAINST VAWA AND AGAINST ALL VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE!

THIS WEDNESDAY, the House will vote on H.R. 4970 and House Majority Leadership is not allowing ANY amendments to the bill. We only have 2 more days to tell our Representatives: the Adams bill (H.R. 4970) is dangerous for victims of violence, excludes vulnerable communities and protects abusers. It is not the real VAWA.  Please stand up for all victims of violence and oppose H.R. 4970. If Congress cannot stand up for all victims, we cannot stand up for our Representatives.

TAKE ACTION!!!

ACTION 1:  Continue to call the DC and district offices of every Representative in Congress TO OPPOSE H.R. 4970.  Tell them about or send them today's New York Times editorial, "Backward on Domestic Violence."

ACTION 2:  Call House leadership and tell them that H.R. 4970 HARMS VICTIMS and ask them to allow an amendment on the House floor that is THE REAL VAWA or face the anger of their constituents.

ACTION 3:  National Organizations and statewide coalitions must continue to send letters to the whole House and to their individual Representatives in their states DENOUNCING H.R. 4970. Please sign onto a letter drafted the National Task from national groups opposing H.R.4970 by 3pm today.

Mother's Day of Action: Bring Families Together

May 11, 2012 Being able to connect with family members on Mother's Day is important to so many of us. But, for the more than two million people incarcerated in the United States, that connection can come at a steep price. Making phone calls from prison is expensive, and up to 60 percent of what prisoners' families pay to speak to their loved ones has nothing to do with the actual cost of the phone service. The high rates of prison phone calls are the result of contracts between prisons and telephone companies. These contracts are awarded based on which company proposes the highest kickback to the prison, not who offers the cheapest rates. NOW is working with allied organizations to right this injustice. Our friends at the Prison Phone Justice Campaign are hosting a Mother's Day of Action, asking the Federal Communications Commission to use its power to address the high cost of prison phone calls. They are working to collect 1,000 stories from people speaking up for the rights of prisoners and their families to stay connected. What can you do? One: Share your story. Fill out this online postcard and we'll submit your story to the Federal Communications Commission. (You can also record your story by calling 877-518-0606.) Two: Tweet the postcard. Help us get to our goal of 1,000 stories by sharing the postcard through social media. Remember to use the hashtag #phonejustice. Sample Tweet: We want #phonejustice for prisoners. Tell the FCC to address the high cost of prison phone calls. Share your story http://j.mp/K9iPux Three: Get organized. Download this toolkit and start organizing in your community.

National Coalition Urges Congress to Consider Social Security Proposals for Women, Caregivers and Same-Sex Couples

For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal, 202-628-8669, ext. 116

May 11, 2012 "The truth is, as our nation ages and retirement income continues to decline for millions of Americans, Congress should be talking about the adequacy of Social Security's benefits -- not cutting them. Congress should examine the inequities that have created a poverty rate for senior women and widows that is 50 percent higher than other retirees 65 and older. We can break this Social Security glass ceiling -- in fact, we must do so to preserve the economic security of generations of American women and their families." Max Richtman, NCPSSM President/CEO
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Foundation, the National Organization for Women Foundation and the Institute for Women's Policy Research briefed congressional staff today on their research examining the challenges facing elderly women and their families in the U.S. Their report, "Breaking the Social Security Glass Ceiling: A Proposal to Modernize Women's Benefits," also proposes initiatives to ensure Social Security benefits are adequate for all Americans, particularly for women and women of color.

Tue, May 15: Stand Up for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

Join us Tuesday, May 15, to stand up for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

We will stand up for women outside of Pete Peterson's Fiscal Summit. Pete Peterson is a billionaire conservative who has the ear of conservatives and big business. He and his billionaire friends are proposing drastic cuts while eating steak and drinking champagne.

We will not allow billionaires to gut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Please join us.

What: Press Conference
Who: National Organization for Women (NOW), Strengthen Social Security Coalition and Allies
When: Tuesday, May 15, 1:30 p.m.
Where: 1301 Constitution Ave NW outside the Mellon Auditorium
Metro - Orange Line to Federal Triangle

© 2012 National Organization for Women

Non-native men can rape, assault and abuse Native American women and they cannot be arrested

National Organization for Women (NOW) has been working from day one to reauthorize the real Violence Against Women Act, which would prevent non-Native American men from raping, assaulting, stalking and abusing Native American women and not getting arrested. 

You can help by contacting Representatives - not just yours.

VAWA tribal provisions are constitutionally sound


By Jefferson Keel, president, National Congress of American Indians - 05/10/12 03:22 PM ET

There is a group of criminals, on Native American lands, who assault, rape, and abuse Native women and they can't be arrested. These criminals are non-Native men. They don't have to face a judge, spend any time behind bars, or be hounded by a criminal record. Instead they remain free to go after the next victim or the same one, time after time. Congress, the one legal body able to fix this problem, could let these injustices continue if they don't act.

Action Alert: Tell your Reps - a yes vote on H.R. 4970 is a vote against VAWA & ALL victims of violence

Please forward to everyone you know who cares about ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking!

May 10, 2012

A YES VOTE ON H.R. 4970 IS A VOTE AGAINST VAWA AND AGAINST ALL VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE

It's Time To Go In-District And Tell Your Representative: The Adams Bill (H.R. 4970) Is Dangerous For Victims Of Violence and Protects Abusers. It Is Not The Real VAWA!

On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee marked up and passed the Adams (R-FL) version of VAWA, H.R. 4970.  This bill is DANGEROUS to victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.  The only way that we will be able to defeat it is if we make clear to every Representative in every district that they CANNOT support this bill.  We have to tell them:  you MUST stand up for EVERY victim of violence by OPPOSING H.R. 4970 – and if you don't, we can't stand up for you.

TAKE ACTION!!

ACTION 1:  PLEASE CONTACT – BY PHONE, EMAIL OR IN PERSON VISIT - THE DISTRICT OFFICE OF YOUR CONGRESS PERSON AND TELL THEM TO OPPOSE H.R. 4970

ACTION 2:  CALL HOUSE LEADERSHIP AND TELL THEM THAT YOU THINK H.R. 4970 HARMS VICTIMS AND IS NOT THE REAL VAWA  

ACTION 3:  NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND STATEWIDE COALITIONS SHOUD SEND A LETTER TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND TO THEIR STATE'S U.S. REPRESENTATIVES DENOUNCING H.R. 4970

ACTION 4:  SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR TO YOUR NEWSPAPERS!

House members need to hear from us NOW on Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

From Pat Reuss of the National Organization for Women (NOW), who has worked from the beginning to pass the VAWA, and now continues to work on it.

Many groups concerned about the victims the H.R. 4970 forgets are also urging their members to contact Congress. Some of these groups include:

• National Congress of  American Indians
• National Network to End Domestic Violence, which NOW helped set up
• The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women (“NTF”) which NOW helped set up and more

Please forward to everyone you know who cares about ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking!

ACT NOW:  THIS IS THE MOMENT – IF YOU WANT REAL VAWA LEGISLATION TO PASS,
YOU MUST ACT!

Politico: GOP slammed on Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) bill

Once again, the National Organization for Women (NOW) leads the battle to protect ALL victims against domestic violence, rape and abuse.

From Politico:

GOP slammed on women violence bill
By: Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer
May 3, 2012 06:06 PM EDT

Excerpts:

Homophobic. Anti-victim. Racist. Elitist.

That's what some of the nation's most prominent women's groups think of the House Republican version of the Violence Against Women Act. It's the most recent interjection of women's issues into contemporary politics, and a clear sign that the GOP's VAWA bill isn't a slam dunk with prominent members of the women's community.

National Organization for Women (NOW) Celebrates President Obama's Support for Marriage Equality

For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal, 202-628-8669, ext. 116

NOW Celebrates President Obama's Support for Marriage Equality
Statement of NOW President Terry O'Neill

May 9, 2012
The National Organization for Women applauds President Barack Obama's announcement today supporting marriage equality. The president's statement marks a proud moment in history, and is an especially welcome antidote to yesterday's vote in North Carolina enshrining discrimination into that state's constitution. We commend President Obama for standing with the LGBT community and millions of others in this country who support marriage for same-sex couples.

NOW Renounces House Judiciary Vote Undermining Spirit and Intent of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal, 202-628-8669, ext. 116

Statement of NOW President Terry O'Neill

The National Organization for Women condemns the vote today in the House Judiciary Committee. In a 17-15 vote, the Republican-controlled committee passed a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that completely undermines the spirit of the landmark bill passed 18 years ago. Judge Ted Poe from Texas was the one Republican hero who voted against the bad bill in the end; though he has been a longtime champion of VAWA, it took courage for Poe to buck his party.
The bill imposes cruel new reporting restrictions on immigrant survivors of violence -- eliminating confidentiality, putting victims in grave danger and empowering abusers. These provisions would be thrown out if the cases involved legal residents or citizens. Frankly, this second class treatment of women of color smacks of willful ignorance of the problem and hostility toward the victims.
The committee refused to even allow consideration of a substitute bill offered by ranking minority member John Conyers (D-Mich.), which mirrors the "real" VAWA passed by the U.S. Senate on April 26 by a bipartisan vote of 68-31. Fifteen Republicans supported the Senate bill, while zero Republicans supported its House counterpart. This appears to be yet another ploy in the War on Women playbook, and Native American women, communities of color, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender victims of violence are the targets this time.

Justice Served: Ex-Police Officer Sentenced to 75 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault

I was one of many people who was angry and disgusted when an ex Police Officer was not convicted of rape, but only three counts of sexual assault.  However, it seems that justice is finally served.

If only every rapist could be locked away for the rest of their lives, justice would be served for every victim and the perpetrator would not be able to victimize anyone else. 

Sincerely,
N. Jerin Arifa

NOW Urges North Carolina Voters to Reject Homophobic Amendment One

For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal, 202-628-8669, ext. 116

NOW Urges North Carolina Voters to Reject Amendment One
Statement of NOW President Terry O'Neill

May 7, 2011
The National Organization for Women urges North Carolinians to vote against "Amendment One" as they head to the polls tomorrow, May 8. The proposed measure would amend the state's constitution to say "Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in the state."
Since same-sex marriage is already illegal in North Carolina, this amendment would enshrine discrimination in the state's constitution. This mean-spirited and discriminatory amendment does not represent the pro-equality state of North Carolina. It is the work of a limited number of people who want to be sure that same-sex couples are permanently denied equal rights and recognition of their lifetime commitment.

Watch the House Judiciary committee Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) markup today 10:15am

The House Judiciary committee's Democrats will be holding a press event (see below) at 9:45 in Rayburn 2237, followed by the Committee mark up of VAWA

The markup will be available live from the House Judiciary Committee's website.

http://judiciary.house.gov/ -- on the right side of the page there is an area entitled "video casts- watch our latest hearing videos" – this will provide the link

House Members and Advocacy Groups to Hold Press Conference on Violence Against Women Act

(WASHINGTON) – This Tuesday, Democratic Members of the House Judiciary Committee will join advocates for the prevention of domestic and sexual violence at a press conference to voice their opposition to H.R. 4970, the House Republican Leadership's alternative Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization bill.  Scheduled for consideration by the House Judiciary Committee that same day, H.R. 4970 not only omits provisions to protect certain vulnerable groups, it rolls back longstanding, bipartisan protections for victims of domestic and sexual violence and repeals critical law enforcement tools needed for the prosecution of offenders.  The press conference will be held immediately preceding the Judiciary Committee's 10:15 a.m. markup of H.R. 4970, in Room 2237 Rayburn House Office Building at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, May 8.

National Organization for Women (NOW) key organizer in Unite Women marches nationwide

Most of you have heard about the Unite Women marches that took place all around the country this past Saturday, with a final headcount of 47,000.  What you may not know is the invaluable part National Organization for Women (NOW) played in organizing the actions nationwide.  As soon as you visit the http://unitewomen.org/unite/ site, the first picture is of the Action Alert NOW sent to our wide network of feminist supporters to join Unite Women.  Want to keep the momentum going?  Join your local chapter of NOW.

Please find below some examples of NOW members’ participation across the nation – in the press and in their own words.  Within the photos and videos, look for the NOW rounds that say “Keep Abortion Legal,” “End Violence against Women,” and more.

Elizabeth Warren Can Help Bring War on Women to an End

For Immediate Release
Contact: Latoya Veal, 202-628-8669, ext. 116

Statement of NOW/PAC Chair Terry O'Neill

May 3, 2012
With the radical right waging a war on women in Congress and statehouses across the nation, it is more important than ever that we elect feminist candidates to office this November. We need candidates like Elizabeth Warren -- who the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee has proudly endorsed -- to shut down this offensive and get the United States moving in a positive direction.
Warren's opponent, Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), is working straight from the right-wing playbook, using diversionary tactics and personal attacks against his challenger. In an effort to move the public conversation away from the issues, the Brown campaign seems willing to grasp at even the slightest of straws.

Help protect ALL victims: call your Representative about VAWA in the House!

We have been updating you on a regular basis on the status of the VAWA.  Thanks to your calls, emails and other forms of activism, it passed the Senate.  Now we need your help to pass it in the House.  Please find below a message from Pat Reuss of the National Organization for Women (NOW), who helped propose and continues to fight for VAWA.

Please forward to everyone you know who cares about ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking!

ACT NOW – the House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee will be considering VAWA next week!

The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence expresses its strong opposition to the Cantor-Adams version of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization (H.R. 4970) that was introduced last week. It weakens or deletes entirely some of the vital improvements in the Senate bill, including the strong provisions that are designed to increase the safety of Native women and the needs of the LGBT community. The bill also contains damaging provisions that create obstacles for immigrant victims seeking to report crimes, increase danger for immigrant victims by eliminating important confidentiality protections, undermine effective anti-fraud protections, and roll back years of progress to protect the safety of immigrant victims. That is not a bill that the National Task Force, comprised of thousands of experts, law enforcement and advocates across the country, can support.

The Senate bill that was passed on April 26, 2012 was the product of significant input from experts in the law enforcement and advocacy fields, and was only introduced after the many interested communities had had a chance to review it, and offer suggestions, and improvements, and raise concerns.  The House has the opportunity to conduct a similarly deliberative process, and we hope that like the Senate, the result will be a strong bi-partisan bill that strengthens protections for all survivors of violence.

We must tell our legislators that we oppose the Cantor-Adams bill and want to see a bipartisan bill that includes ALL victims.  The House of Representatives is in recess this week so it's a good time to tell reach out to them. 

ACTION:  Call your representative and tell them:  "We oppose the Cantor/Adams proposal because it doesn't include protections for all victims.  We support a bill that is closer to HR 4271 with improvements, including those provisions in the bi-partisan Senate bill that protects Tribal victims, immigrant victims, LGBTQ victims and other marginalized communities."

National Organization for Women News: Eve Ensler at Conference, War on Women, Newsweek, Wal-Mart, Social Security, VAWA

http://action.now.org/o/5996/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=122989

IN THIS ISSUE:

• 2012 National NOW Conference
• NOW Applauds Senate Passage of "Real" VAWA
• Social Security Panic Unwarranted: Report Sets Stage for Improved Benefits
• VIDEO: Terry O'Neill on C-SPAN's Washington Journal discussing VAWA
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Activists gathered in Washington, D.C. to rally for equal opportunities, equal rights, and equal representation. Many other marches and rallies occurred simultaneously all across the U.S. View more photos on Flickr »

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Action Alert on House Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) needed THIS WEEK

From Pat Reuss of National Organization for Women (NOW), who helped propose and keeps fighting for VAWA.

Congress is in recess and we need to act on VAWA NOW while they are home.  If you only have time to do one thing, do #4.  Please encourage other orgs in your state to join you in this effort.   

1. Publicly thank or chastise your state's U.S. Senators for their VAWA vote.  Post and share this Poster on Facebook and everywhere else: http://front.moveon.org/the-31-republican-senators-who-voted-no-on-the-violence-against-women-act/#.T5_joOl15ZY.facebook
2. Publicly oppose the House Republican version of VAWA, publicize to all your friends and to every House Member in your state from either party.  Task force statement at www.4vawa.org
3. Call your Representatives in your state who are on the House Judiciary Committee and ask that they oppose the Republican bill and support improving amendments offered by Conyers when the committee meets May 8.
4. Ask your Representatives in your state to sign on as a sponsor to the Moore (D-WI) VAWA bill, H.R. 4271.  http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/