WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Organization for Women recognizes Juneteenth– the holiday commemorating the day the last enslaved people in this country were finally freed. While Juneteenth has long been celebrated by the Black community, many Americans don’t even know the history of the holiday. This lack of awareness is another example of how history is told and distorted
Released on May 25, 2021 The Senate vote to confirm Kristen Clarke as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division was narrow—but the victory for civil rights was enormous. Kristen Clarke will be the first Black woman to lead the Civil Rights Division, and she is unquestionably one of the most qualified, experienced, and talented individuals to
Released on May 18, 2021 WASHINGTON, D.C. – NOW is pleased to participate in 2021’s AAPI Day Against Bullying and Hate. Given the horrifying rise in hate crimes against Asian-Americans in recent months, today is an especially critical day to recognize the unjust incidents of hate and bullying that have caused trauma, pain and damage to the AAPI community as well as to come together to ensure change. Hate and discrimination
Released on March 19, 2021 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Organization for Women applauds the House of Representatives for passing the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021. This is a vital first step in permanently protecting undocumented immigrants from the threat of deportation. These immigrants – the Dreamers, were brought to this country as children and are as American
Released on March 8, 2021 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Organization for Women takes this International Women’s Day to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of women around the world and the obstacles we have had to overcome on the journey. This year has been a difficult one for women, who have been hard-hit by the physical, emotional, and financial damage done
Released on March 3, 2021 WASHINGTON, D.C. – This Women’s History Month and every month, NOW celebrates women’s historic achievements in the national spotlight and behind the scenes. Even now as women are bearing the brunt of a national health and economic crisis and are still the majority of frontline and essential workers battling COVID-19, they continue to overcome the obstacles before
Released on February 26, 2021 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Our democracy is broken. The corruption of money in politics and the scourge of voter suppression have brought our system of “one person, one vote” to the breaking point. Democrats in Congress have introduced a comprehensive democracy reform package, H.R. 1, the For the People Act, and the first order of business in the new Congress is to pass this
Released on February 23, 2021 WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week’s anticipated vote on the Equality Act brings the federal government one step closer to codifying something that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe is long overdue. Discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs and jury service must be against the
Released on February 8, 2021 Historic Legislative Package to End Maternal Mortality and Close Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Outcomes NOW is proud to endorse the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, a historic legislative package unveiled today by Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Alma Adams (NC-12), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and members of the Black Maternal
Released on February 4, 2021 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of National Organization for Women (NOW) co-founder Betty Friedan. Her groundbreaking work as the “mother” of the modern women’s rights movement includes her seminal book, The Feminine Mystique, and her election as NOW’s first president. An author, journalist, educator, and activist, Friedan launched NOW on June
