WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s not enough for Biden Administration officials to say they were outraged by the image of U.S. Border Patrol agents on horseback swinging long reins and confronting Haitian refugees with aggressive actions and profanity.    

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said he was “horrified” by what he saw. Press Secretary Jen Psaki echoed his sentiments, responding she “can’t imagine what context would make that appropriate.” That’s because there is no situation where treating any human beings like herded animals is appropriate. In response, Mayorkas has promised a full investigation and said that abuse of a migrant is against Border Control policy, training, and values.    

These are nice words, but words are not enough. Our government must also acknowledge that the inhumane treatment of immigrant women and children has long been a source of enduring national shame. Now the roundup like cattle of Haitian and other immigrants at the border, followed by mass deportations, is a further indignity.  

There have been plenty of opportunities to take steps towards comprehensive immigration reform. For example, in 2019, the House passed the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Borders Protection Custody Act (HR 3239) which would have guaranteed access to adequate sanitation facilities, clean drinking water, hygiene products, and more and also that initial health screenings to be conducted in a specific time period, especially for women, and children, who make up three-quarters of the people migrating to this country. Instead of codifying the standards in which people should be treated when they enter the U.S., the Senate put politics over people and held up the bill.   

Many of the people coming into this country are doing so because they are already vulnerable and attempting to escape terrible circumstances. Our immigration process needs to embrace more humane standards (like those proposed by HR 3239). We need to adopt a feminist lens when it comes to immigration reform, centering the experiences of the women and children and ensuring we’re addressing issues like providing access to healthcare, keeping their families together, and protecting them against the violence they may be attempting to escape.   

Joe Biden ran on a promise of a fair and humane immigration system—surely, he can see this is anything but that. Congress has failed to act on immigration in more than 25 years, and this is the consequence. It’s time for the Biden Administration and leaders in Washington to finally come together on comprehensive immigration reform and ensure that all people – no matter how they’ve arrived to this country – are treated with humanity and respect. NOW will continue to hold them accountable to this promise.    

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The recent Senate testimony by four Olympic gymnasts was heart-wrenching—and it made us mad.  We are mad that these brave women had to relive their trauma for a televised audience.  We are mad that the institutions involved are not holding themselves accountable.  And we are mad at the culture that brought them here.   

As Simone Biles stated so plainly, we’re mad at “an entire system that enabled and perpetrated (Larry Nassar’s) abuse.” 

FBI Director Christopher Wray apologized for the agency’s failures stating that their behaviors and lack of actions were “totally unacceptable.” Wray even mentioned that they had fired an agent involved in the case for his negligence after interviewing McKayla Maroney.  After listening to her for three solid hours, Ms. Maroney said she was finally met with a long silence before the agent asked, “Is that all?” 

Director Wray, we’re asking you now, “Is that all?”  Is that all you’re going to do?  An apology before a televised hearing isn’t enough, not by a long shot. The FBI, professional sports associations and clubs, Michigan State University and other institutions all played a role in enabling Nassar’s decades-long cycle of abuse, and every single one of these entities must institute serious, wide-ranging reforms. 

The systemic abuse of student athletes won’t change until we hold the systems that perpetuate it accountable, and the culture of denial, negligence and betrayal of survivors changes for good.  Enough is enough with empty apologies, we need action and accountability, NOW.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — California voters made the right call in rejecting the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom.

The recall vote was always about partisan politics. Gavin Newsom was building a record as a progressive and feminist leader which included advancing policies and programs to expand family leave, establish child care programs, promote gender pay equity and protect reproductive rights. His record made him a target for extremists looking for any opportunity to keep Trump’s agenda in the spotlight.

What’s worse is that this Republican recall became a referendum on abortion care, with the leading Republican candidate, extremist talk-show host Larry Elder, pledging to work to limit abortions if he became Governor.

But California voters saw through this political game and stopped the extremist elements that have hijacked Republican politics in California from nullifying the results of the last election.

But our work isn’t done. As we have in the past, NOW will continue to organize and leverage our collective power to defend our democracy. We will hold officials accountable to do right by us all, especially those in marginalized and communities of color. And NOW will keep working to make sure they don’t try this again in the next election – not in California, or anywhere else.