Statement from NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The white nationalist who killed twenty people in El Paso targeted more than innocent shoppers and families from both sides of the border. He was aiming to promote the racist, hateful views of a toxic online community that’s been emboldened by what they hear from Donald Trump and his enablers on cable news and online. 

Before committing his act of domestic terrorism, the Texas gunman made sure to explain his actions on an alt-right website.  

“If we can get rid of enough people, then our way of life can be more sustainable,” he wrote. “This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas.” 

There’s not much daylight between these views and the open racism Donald Trump embraces against immigrants from Latin America at his rallies and on Twitter.  

NOW calls on Twitter to ban Donald Trump from the platform for violating its policies on hateful and abusive content. NOW also joins the call for Mitch McConnell to call the U.S Senate back in session to vote on meaningful gun control. Thoughts and prayers are never enough and they’re not enough today. We need action – NOW. 

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745

Statement from NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The fix is in to elevate General John E. Hyten to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military’s second highest position, despite credible accusations of sexual assault made by an officer under his command. Col. Kathryn Spletstoser has told investigators and the media about Gen. Hyten’s repeated sexual advances, but she is not being allowed to testify at Hyten’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee today. 

The U.S. Senate proved during the Brett Kavanaugh hearings that it has no interest in investigating charges of sexual assault against Trump’s nominees and feels no responsibility to defend a woman’s right to a safe workplace, or to hold accountable predatory men who treat women as sex objects.   What’s more, this case exemplifies the need to remove these investigations from the military chain of command.  This administration continues to exemplify a toxic culture of powerful men protecting other men – and those who continue to abuse their positions of power. We need to end the culture of sexual abuse, criminality and cover-up.  Justice has been denied too long for survivors like Col. Spletstoser. NOW calls on the Armed Services Committee to let Kathryn Spletstoser testify, and to reject Gen. Hyten’s nomination. Enough is enough. 

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745

Statement from NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) in soccer made history by winning their fourth World Cup trophy, but the legacy of discrimination against women athletes continues. This is one reason NOW is standing up in support of two important pieces of legislation that would help female athletes finally get the compensation they deserve.  

The USWNT, led by inspiring figures including Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Rose Lavelle, are paid as little as 38 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts, despite winning back-to-back World Cup titles.  Additionally, the women’s team is subjected to inferior playing conditions and equipment than the national men’s team, who have never won a World Cup. In fact, their best performance dates back to 1930, when they reached the quarter-finals. 

That is why NOW strongly supports the Give Our Athletes Level Salaries (GOALS) Act, introduced by Reps. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), which would block any and all federal funding for the 2026 World Cup—jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada—until the U.S. Soccer Federation pays the women fair and equitable wages.  

Additionally, the Athletics Fair Pay Act, introduced by Reps. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) in the House and Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in the Senate, would require equal pay and compensation for all Olympic and amateur athletes by amending the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to require equitable pay for female athletes. It would also add new reporting requirements regarding athlete pay broken down by race and gender.  

The electrifying performance and inspiring team spirit of the USWNT is helping to boost soccer’s popularity in the United States, but the way we treat women athletes remains a source of national shame.  The whole world will be watching us when the World Cup comes to North America in 2026.  If we are going to be a leader in international soccer, we must first lead with our values of equal pay, fairness and respect for women.    

Pass the GOALS Act and the Athletics Fair Pay Act today.   

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745

Statement from NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Judge Kristine Baker ruled today to temporarily block three anti-abortion laws that would have left Arkansas residents with only one clinic providing abortion care. Currently, Arkansas has two such clinics, and only one of them performs abortions after 10 weeks into a pregnancy. That clinic would not have been able to meet new burdensome requirements under one of the blocked bills. 

The National Organization for Women applauds Judge Baker for ruling against these bills and temporarily preventing Arkansas from becoming the seventh state with only one abortion clinic, a dangerous situation that puts those who do not have the resources to travel out of state in danger.  

We know that these bills were not passed to protect women’s health — because women are safest when they have access to affordable, accessible abortion care, not when clinics have their hands tied or are forced to close. This ruling stands as a strong refusal to value the ideological extremism of a few over the health, safety and constitutional rights of Arkansas women. 

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745

Statement from NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – From protecting women’s reproductive health and equal pay, to immigration reform and the importance of the female vote in the upcoming elections, women’s issues are dominating headlines every single day. The National Organization for Women (NOW) begins its annual conference today in Minneapolis, with events revolving around this year’s theme: “Feminist Agenda Rising: Our Time is Now.” NOW and its members are coming together to discuss how to tackle the most important issues confronting women today across all races and in all communities.

In a statement, NOW President Toni Van Pelt said,

“As NOW members gather in Minneapolis for our Annual Conference, we call on the presidential candidates to show their commitment to feminist values and prioritize issues that strengthen women’s rights.

At the conclusion of this year’s conference, we will be distributing a Presidential Candidates Checklist for our members to use when choosing a candidate in the most consequential presidential election we’ve ever witnessed.

It’s going to take more than a candidate to beat Donald Trump.  It’s going to take a platform.  Over the next two days, NOW members will be engaged in workshops that share experiences and empower activism, on topics including racial justice, fixing how we pay for health care, using social media, lobbying legislators and lobbying for the ERA, among others.

Our platform will be the blueprint for the way we’ll work with a feminist, woman President.”

Contact

Kimberly Hayes, Press Secretary, press@now.org, 202-570-4745