Press Releases

NOW Congratulates Sewell on Strong First-Place Finish in Alabama Primary

Released on June 2, 2010

Alabama voters cast their ballots for Terri Sewell on Tuesday, giving her a first-place finish in the state’s Democratic Party primary. Sewell received 37 percent of the vote and will face Shelia Smoot, who garnered 29 percent of the vote, in a July 13 runoff. NOW’s Political Action Committee proudly endorsed Sewell, a first-time candidate for public office, early in her campaign. Sewell is running for an open seat in the House of Representatives from Alabama’s 7th Congressional District.

“NOW congratulates Terri Sewell, and we look forward to continuing to work together toward a win in July and again in November,” said NOW President and NOW PAC Chair Terry O’Neill. “Early support for women candidates is critical to their success. We must continue backing women like Terri Sewell if we hope to achieve gender parity in government.”

NOW Supports Protests Against Arizona Immigration Law Measure Will “Push Already Vulnerable Families Past The Breaking Point”

Released on May 28, 2010

The National Organization for Women (NOW), the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States, joins the Arizona chapter of NOW in supporting the public protest against Arizona’s controversial new immigration law, SB 1070, which makes it a state crime for a person to be undocumented. The law, as it stands, will take effect on July 29 unless the courts intervene.

“For years, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arapaio has been terrorizing this community by profiling, arresting and deporting the undocumented. This law codifies Sheriff Arapaio’s vigilante justice and gives a green light to the politics of racial division, fear and discrimination,” says NOW President Terry O’Neill.

NOW Hails Votes to End Discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy, Says Bill Does Not Go Far Enough — Discharges Should End Immediately

Released on May 28, 2010

Yesterday the House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to end the discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that has barred lesbians and gay men from serving openly in the military.

“This has been a long time coming. More than 14,000 service members have had their careers cut short,” said NOW President Terry O’Neill. “While NOW applauds the action taken by Congress, we believe that it does not go far enough.”

NOW Congratulates Joe Sestak on Pivotal Win in Pennsylvania Primary

Released on May 19, 2010

Last night, Rep. Joe Sestak achieved a pivotal victory in Pennsylvania by besting 30-year incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter in the state’s Democratic primary. After two previous endorsements for the House of Representatives, the NOW Political Action Committee enthusiastically endorsed Sestak for his Senate run.

NOW Applauds President Obama’s Historic Nomination to Supreme Court

Released on May 10, 2010

The National Organization for Women applauds President Barack Obama’s decision to nominate a woman to follow Justice John Paul Stevens on the U.S. Supreme Court. Upon confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Solicitor General Elena Kagan would join Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor to become the third woman currently sitting on the Supreme Court — a historic achievement.