Press Releases

In Memoriam: NOW Mourns Loss of Women’s Rights Champion Senator Ted Kennedy

Released on August 26, 2009

The National Organization for Women is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy, the revered Democrat from Massachusetts. A dedicated public servant, Ted Kennedy was a champion of civil rights, women’s equality, voting rights, economic justice, disability rights, reproductive freedom and so much more.

NOW President Terry O’Neill to Stand with Reproductive Health Care Providers, Defenders in Nebraska

Released on August 25, 2009

“Since the assassination of Dr. George Tiller in May, anti-abortion forces have set their sights on Dr. LeRoy Carhart. Operation Rescue plans to besiege Dr. Carhart’s Nebraska clinic this weekend in an attempt to terrorize the clinic workers and their patients, with the ultimate goal of closing down the facility,” said NOW President Terry O’Neill. “Because NOW believes that it is every woman’s right to have access to the full range of reproductive health care, I will be there to stand with leaders and activists from NOW and other organizations to help defend these brave providers.”

NOW Celebrates Landmark Confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court

Released on August 6, 2009

History was made today when the Senate confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. The National Organization for Women proudly celebrates Sotomayor’s landmark achievement as the first Hispanic justice to sit on the high court and just the third woman justice.

NOW Outraged at House Vote on Abortion Coverage – Women’s Rights Traded Away

Released on July 31, 2009

NOW is outraged to learn that the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed an amendment excluding abortion services from the ‘essential’ health benefits package as defined by the government. Under this amendment, subsidies used to help pay insurance premiums for low-income people could not be used for abortion services. The New York Times reports that “insurers must use money from private sources to pay for any abortions.