Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam’s decision to grant full clemency to Cyntoia Brown was the right thing to do, but it doesn’t erase the injustice she endured.  The criminalization of the trauma she suffered as a victim of sex trafficking and abuse is reprehensible and unacceptable.

Cyntoia Brown was 16 when she was trafficked to a man who hit her, choked her, and dragged her across the floor.  When she thought he was reaching for a gun, the teenager shot her abuser. For this action, she was tried as an adult, then convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison – with the possibility of parole only after serving 51 years behind bars.

Tennessee’s parole board gave the governor a split recommendation, with some on the panel recommending early release and others suggesting she stay in prison until she was 69 years old.  Questions need to be asked about the state of justice in Tennessee, and how the legal system fails victims of abuse and trafficking like Cyntoia Brown.

Because of a PBS documentary and vocal support from high-profile celebrities who rallied to her cause, Cyntoia Brown’s case received plenty of attention in the public spotlight. However, countless other young women languish in prisons for similar reasons, without the benefit of superstar endorsement.  

Cyntoia Brown completed her GED and got a college degree while in prison, and she has said she hopes to start a nonprofit to pursue social justice issues.  Her dedication to this cause is inspiring, and her voice and experience will have a tremendous impact.

NOW applauds Gov. Haslam for listening to our demands – along with the demands of thousands of other advocates – to award Cyntoia Brown a full commutation. However, this story of injustice does not end in August when Cyntoia walks out of prison. The National Organization for Women, the people of Tennessee, and concerned citizens everywhere need to demand an end to the criminalization of trauma, especially towards women and girls of color. Only when we see an end to sex trafficking and violence against women and girls will justice be served.

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NOW Press, press@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON – An alarming rise in “personhood” laws – including a new focus on beyond-the-pale criminal prosecution of pregnant women- is opening up a dangerous new front in the far-right’s attack on reproductive rights.  As an editorial series in the New York Times described:

“These criminal statutes are results of a tried-and-true playbook, part of a strategic campaign to establish fetal rights, reverse Roe v. Wade and recriminalize abortion. The sequence begins with anti-abortion groups seizing upon a tragic case in which a woman loses her pregnancy because of someone else’s actions. Public outcry then helps to strengthen a state feticide law that recognizes such lost pregnancies as murder or manslaughter. It’s a backdoor way of legally defining when life begins.”

Some activists behind fetal protection laws see them as a vehicle for overturning Roe v. Wade.  With Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, rulings that strike down Roe and prop up “personhood” laws could be just around the corner.

It is beyond irony that Donald Trump and his allies in the states fiercely oppose an Equal Rights Amendment for women, and now want to shred our Constitution to grant personhood status to the fetus.

The National Organization for Women has always been on the front lines of defending women’s rights, including abortion rights, and in empowering women to protect themselves from institutions and powerful elites that seek to oppress and discriminate against us. NOW will continue to oppose laws and policies that elevate a constitutionally indefensible notion of fetal personhood and threaten the health and dignity of women.

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NOW Press, press@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has revoked the “Rethink Discipline” guidelines, issued during the Obama administration, which reminded schools of their responsibility to address racial discrimination in school discipline.  Without these guardrails, schools can continue to funnel minority students into the “school to prison pipeline,” which removes students from public schools and places them in the criminal justice system, often for minor infractions or contrived offenses pertaining to their “attitude,” their clothes, hairstyle, or the trauma they’ve experienced.

This is the latest example of how Betsy DeVos—and Donald Trump—want to retool the federal government into an instrument of shredding civil rights, rather than protecting them.  The effect will be to further marginalize the already marginalized and criminalize the too-often criminalized students of color.

Students of color are more likely to have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, abuse, or neglect.  They need caring and culturally competent teachers, a safe learning environment and comprehensive counseling and mental health services. Instead, under Betsy DeVos’ cruel plan, they will be further isolated, punished, and denied the opportunity to continue their education.

NOW calls on Secretary DeVos to cancel her unwarranted, unjustified and racially discriminatory guidance and stop using minority students as political pawns in Donald Trump’s politics of division.  Our public schools are the backbone of our civil society and students should feel safe, respected, and valued as they strive to learn.

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NOW Press, press@now.org, 202-628-8669

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON – The National Organization for Women (NOW) was proud to be a sponsor of the historic Women’s March that took place following Donald Trump’s inauguration, and of the subsequent March last year.  

NOW has a long history of support for grassroots actions and street protest. NOW brought 750,000 abortion rights supporters to Washington in 1992 for the first March for Women’s Lives, and we worked with other partners to organize an even larger protest in 2004 when a record 1.5 million people gathered for what was then the largest protest in U.S. history.

The Women’s March was created to be a beacon of inclusion amid an administration intent on division. NOW will continue to support the Women’s March Unity Principles, and we will participate and organize members to attend the March. However, we will withhold direct financial support until the current questions regarding leadership are resolved.

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NOW Press, press@now.org, 202-628-8669

WASHINGTON — Throughout 2018, women across the country have experienced several highs and lows. NOW and its allies have refused to sit quietly and watch those who attempt to turn back the clock on women’s rights. We have been tested, but we have risen to the challenge and continued to speak truth to power. Though we recognize there have been many threats to women’s rights, as well as notable victories worth celebrating – below are just some highlights from this past year.

2018’s WORST OFFENDERS OF WOMEN

5. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos

Betsy DeVos does not care about protecting students – especially the women and girls who are the targets of sexual harassment and violence.  Her proposed changes to regulations of Title IX would make schools more dangerous for all students – especially survivors of sexual misconduct. Under these rules, schools would be encouraged (and even required) to be complicit in sexual harassment and violence, prioritizing the accused over the victim.

4. CBS Corporation

The network has come under fire for protecting abusers and fostering a toxic culture. Reprehensible behavior has been found to extend throughout the organization with abuses of power demonstrated by several men from Charlie Rose to Jeff Fager – and of course at the very top with CEO Les Moonves. Though the network has made some right moves, from recent pledges to donate to women’s rights groups to ensuring Moonves will not receive a $120 million payout – they should have taken action much sooner to ensure they were not enabling this sort of abuse and misconduct for so long.

3. The National Football League (NFL)

In the NFL, a culture of misogyny and violence against women is acceptable, so long as the perpetrator contributes to the bottom line. Led by commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL continues to demonstrate they value profits over people, and they have no desire to implement real change.

2. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

An example white privilege and the product of a culture of toxic masculinity, nominee Kavanaugh demonstrated he was unfit for the bench with his temperament and his horrific background of sexual aggression.  His appointment is a stain on the judicial system and with the repeal of Roe now a possibility, he could have a lasting negative impact on women’s rights for generations to come.

1. President Donald J. Trump

The assaulter-in-chief has been publicly accused by 19 women of sexual misconduct. Beyond his own rhetoric and behavior, he has appointed other offenders to positions of power within his administration and he continues to promote policies (from separating families to denying access to healthcare) that demonstrate he does not care about women or any marginalized communities. He earns the title of NOW’s worst offender of women.

2018’s TOP VICTORIES FOR WOMEN

5. Enough is Enough Congressional Briefing & Summit

NOW convened a coalition of major feminist organizations to develop survivor-centric solutions to the rampant epidemic of sexual violence in our society. Coming together to share first-hand stories, activists worked to take tangible actions that would influence meaningful changes on the ground, in the courts, and in Congress.

4. The Sentencing of Bill Cosby

Despite dozens of women publicly sharing their stories of how Cosby had drugged and sexually assaulted them over his decades-spanning career as a powerful media figure, Cosby had long escaped any punishment for his crimes. The first celebrity to go to prison in the #MeToo era, this landmark case demonstrates no one is above the law.

3. State Victories (ERA and Equal Pay)

From Illinois becoming the 37th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signing the strongest state pay equity bill in the country, women saw several victories at the state-level – which will hopefully lead to momentum with other states and ultimately at the federal level as well.

2. The 2018 Midterm Elections

In what some dubbed as the “pink wave,” women were at the forefront of this year’s midterm elections. From record voter turnout to a record 102 women elected to Congress, women made sure their voices were heard. We made it known that women demand to be represented, and we put them in leadership roles and positions of power.

1. The Momentum of #MeToo

Survivors of sexual violence have often hesitated to come forward due to fear of reliving the trauma among other potential consequences that would disrupt their lives, but 2018 has shown that the #MeToo movement is here to stay. More and more women are following in the footsteps of heroes like Dr. Christine Blasey Ford to demand justice and that their voices be heard.

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NOW Press, press@now.org, 202-628-8669