Press Releases

Expansion of Hate Crimes Law Necessary for Women’s Safety

Released on September 27, 2007

By a vote of 60 to 39, the Senate passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would permit federal prosecution of hate crimes based on a person’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

On Women’s Equality Day We Ask, “Is This What Equality Looks Like?”

Released on August 24, 2007

Thanks to the leadership of great women who have organized, demanded change, and fought for their rights, today’s women have more opportunities than ever in education and employment, more economic freedom and reproductive options, and a better future for themselves and their families. But many of those gains are threatened.

So in celebrating Women’s Equality Day 2007, we should pause and ask, “Is this what equality looks like?”

NOW Denounces Deportation of Immigrant Rights Advocate Elvira Arellano

Released on August 22, 2007

“It is an outrage that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE), in a deplorable operation called ‘Return to Sender’ is violating the rights of U.S. born children and placing their well-being in jeopardy. In a cold-hearted and punitive manner, ICE ignores pleas from mothers and fathers who have lived, worked, paid taxes and formed families in this country not to be separated from their dependent children,” says Olga Vives, Executive Vice President of NOW.

NOW Deplores Fetal Homicide Charges in Ocean City Case, “This is a job for social services, not the D.A.”

Released on August 3, 2007

The National Organization for Women (NOW) is urging its Maryland members to speak out against a rush to judgment in the Ocean City stillbirth case. Christy Freeman is being charged under a 2005 state “fetal homicide” law that makes it illegal to kill “a viable fetus,” despite a provision in the law that was intended to protect pregnant women from prosecution for actions that result in their own fetus’ death, such as abortion.