To: NOW Activists
From: Patricia Ireland,
Kim
Gandy, Elizabeth Toledo &
Karen Johnson
Subject: Take Action in Y2K!
Date: December 16, 1999
Hello Y2K!
As we approach 2000, feminists face many challenges. The results of upcoming elections will be so important to all of our issues. Your work as an activist is more important than ever before. We want to take this opportunity to thank you for everything that you do for the feminist movement. NOW's activists are the people who move the movement. We are both appreciative of your efforts and privileged to work with you.
We hope that you, your family and friends have a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
As we say "good bye" to the 1900s, we can all be making plans for our feminist work in the upcoming year. We have enclosed some organizing information and materials on the 27th Roe v. Wade anniversary, the World March of Women 2000 and other actions planned for next year. So, get ready for fierce feminist action in 2000!
Roe Anniversary Call to Action
January 22, 2000 will mark the 27th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court's historic Roe v. Wade decision that recognized the now-severely-limited constitutional right to abortion. We know that many chapters will commemorate Roe with some action or other event. If your chapter has not made plans for January 22nd, we encourage you to organize an action -- big or small.
The mounting attacks on abortion rights present an almost unprecedented threat as we enter the upcoming election year. The next president likely will appoint three U.S. Supreme Court justices. The future of the already compromised Roe decision will depend on electing a president and Congress that support legal abortion and birth control.
To assist with your organizing efforts, we expect to have a new reproductive rights brochure available in time for your Roe actions. We have also included a list of abortion rights products available through the NOW Store. To order products, please contact Stefanie Richards (extension 103 or e-mail products@now.org). To order the new brochures, please contact Cindy Hanford (extension 128 or email).
If your chapter organizes an action, please contact Sarah Martin (extension 143 or e-mail pacs@now.org) to give her the details of your event. We will compile a list of actions across the country to promote to the media, and we want to be sure to include your chapter's event.
World March of Women 2000
Mark your calendars! NOW is organizing the U.S. action for the World March of Women 2000 in Washington, DC on Sunday, October 15, 2000. The march will be followed by the Women's International Symposium on Health (WISH) on Monday, October 16th, sponsored by the NOW Foundation.
These actions will be announced to the media and the public on March 8 -- International Women's Day. While our organizing efforts are still in the early stages, we anticipate that women from around the world will participate in the Washington march and WISH before going on to the United Nations (U.N.) in New York City for the final action there on Tuesday, October 17th. A Virtual March is also planned for October 17 for those unable to travel to the U.N.
We have enclosed a preliminary March Fact Sheet as well as an organizational endorsement form. Please make copies of the form and ask local organizations in your community to sponsor the march. We also encourage NOW chapters and state organizations to sign-on as sponsors.
We will forward a special march organizing kit to you early next year. However, it's not too early to begin planning buses, planes and trains from your community to Washington for the first women's rights march on Washington in 2000! And remember to announce your plans to local media on March 8.
STILL MORE 2000 EVENTS
Valentine's Day has taken on new meaning for NOW activists. For several years, we have used the occasion to organize actions in support of lesbian rights. On February 14, 2000, we urge activists to organize equal marriage rights or anti-hate crimes actions. Action organizing ideas and more information will be forwarded to you in January.
Lots of actions and events are being planned for 2000. So, please be sure to note the following important dates. The Feminist Expo 2000 will be held in Baltimore, MD, March 31 to April 2. The Feminist Expo 2000 will bring together women's groups from every sector of society to show the strength, depth, and diversity of the global feminist movement.
On May 7, 2000 we are asking NOW activists across the country to organize"Watch Out! Listen Up!" actions to protest against sexism in media. Activists are encouraged to tune out bad media images and to speak out to demand better and more inclusive programming. We will contact stations and advertisers to let them know what programming we object to. We will also voice our support for programming that positively portrays the broad range of diversity of women and includes the involvement of women in all aspects of the media. Look for more information next year.
Activists from your chapter will not want to miss the National NOW Conference
in 2000 right on the ocean on Miami Beach, June 30 through July 2. We will
vote on a new Statement of Purpose for NOW and design an action plan to
head into the new millennium with a clear feminist direction.