Annual Meeting 2025
Join us in Newport, October 3rd to 5th, 2025. Board elections, social events, and a focus on one of our core issues: violence against women.
Justice For Cyntoia Brown—We Must End the Criminalization of Trauma
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: WASHINGTON — Justice has failed Cyntoia Brown so many times. At the age of two, Brown was put up for adoption, and when she was 16 she was sold as a sex slave to a 43-year old Nashville man. This perpetrator held a gun on her and hit,
Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta Must Resign For Allowing Serial Child Molester Jeffrey Epstein To Escape Justice
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: WASHINGTON — Jeffrey Epstein is a serial child molester who used his wealth, power and influence to escape serious penalties for his crimes. The charges brought against him could have resulted in Epstein spending the rest of his life in prison —but instead, he played “let’s make a
NOW Celebrates Native American Heritage Month
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: WASHINGTON – As we wind down the month-long observation of November’s Native American Heritage Month, the National Organization for Women celebrates the history and legacy of the first American feminists. Native American women were more than just mothers of the tribes’ children—they were builders, warriors, farmers, and craftswomen.
Federal Judge Makes Wrong Decision on FGM Case
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: WASHINGTON — The National Organization for Women regrets the unfortunate ruling of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in the first case of female genital mutilation brought under the federal law banning this horrific practice. We believe this ruling to be erroneous for a
Ohio Sends Brett Kavanaugh a “Save The Date” Card—Get Ready To Repeal Roe
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt WASHINGTON – The Ohio House has passed a bill to criminalize abortions which take place after a fetal heartbeat can be detected- this can be as early as six weeks before many women even know they’re pregnant. Although Gov. John Kasich vetoed the bill once in 2016, the
NOW Endorses Rep. Barbara Lee for House Democratic Caucus Chair
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: WASHINGTON – The National Organization for Women (NOW) is proud to endorse Rep. Barbara Lee to be the next Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the fifth-ranking position in leadership. If elected, Rep. Lee would be the first black woman to serve in House leadership—an historic step that
Proposed Title IX Changes Would Gut Critical Protections for Students Everywhere
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: Today Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos announced sweeping changes to Title IX that would eliminate from schools at all levels nearly all responsibilities to protect students from sexual harassment and violence. The proposed changes would take our education system back decades to a time when there was very
NOW Endorses Nancy Pelosi, Overwhelmingly the Only Choice for Speaker
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: WASHINGTON — The National Organization for Women (NOW) is proud to endorse Nancy Pelosi to reclaim her position as Speaker of the House. The first woman in U.S. history to ascend to this position richly deserves to return. Republicans have long demonized Nancy Pelosi, ostensibly for her progressive
Thousands Call on Former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to Donate Campaign Funds to Anti-Violence Groups
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt, Sonia Ossorio, president of NOW-New York. Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority, and Shaunna Thomas, executive director of UltraViolet: Thousands of people have signed on to a petition launched by the Feminist Majority, the National Organization for Women, the National Organization for Women of New York, and UltraViolet demanding
Women Won The House, But Reproductive Justice Is Still Under Attack
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