Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: WASHINGTON – It is reported a school nurse and vice principal at Binghamton East Middle School in New York State strip searched four African-American girls because they were acting “giddy” and authorities concluded they might be using drugs. News flash—12-year-old girls act silly sometimes. That’s not a problem
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt and Christian Nunes, Chairwoman of the Racial Justice Committee: WASHINGTON – Every February, we observe Black History Month as a way of celebrating, honoring and absorbing the lessons of the African Americans who have contributed so much to our culture, our communities and our nation. This year, we
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: WASHINGTON – When the Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963, women were paid 58 cents for every dollar earned by men. Fifty-six years after the act’s passage, the difference is still apparent. Today, women are paid only 80 cents for every man’s dollar, and the gap is
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: WASHINGTON – By granting the Trump Administration’s request to allow it to bar most transgender people from serving in the military, the Supreme Court has taken another step away from judicial fairness, and towards political vendettas. Donald Trump launched this hate campaign in a series of tweets in
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: WASHINGTON – On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade, recognizing the Constitutional protection of a woman’s right to abortion care. Forty-six years later, Roe is still the law of the land—but just barely. Since Roe, state and federal lawmakers have attempted to pass
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt WASHINGTON – January 21 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national observance to honor the memory of the civil rights advocate. But we should also remember that Martin Luther King Jr. was an early and dedicated supporter of women’s rights. As a preacher at Dexter Avenue Baptist
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt, NOW Combatting Racism Chair Christian Nunes and New York State-NOW President Sonia Osorio: WASHINGTON – For decades, R. Kelly has abused, exploited and endangered young Black girls. The Lifetime documentary series Surviving R. Kelly has provided chilling and appalling detail, and brought into focus a key question—why does the music
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: WASHINGTON – The Virginia Senate voted today (26-14) to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The National Organization for Women (NOW) applauds Virginia lawmakers for taking this first step towards passage of the amendment by the state legislature. NOW leaders and activists across the country are rejoicing that
Statement by National NOW President Toni Van Pelt and New Mexico NOW State President Sharon Hart: WASHINGTON – New Mexico state legislator Rep. Miguel P. Garcia has proposed a state holiday in honor of the late farm worker leader Cesar Chavez of California and the late New Mexico State Senator Dennis Chavez. Garcia is quoted as
Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt: Bernice Sandler, who passed away January 5 at her home in Washington, D.C., was widely known as the “Godmother of Title IX.” After earning a doctorate at the University of Maryland in 1969, she applied for one of seven teaching positions in her department but was told that
