Standing For Women's Rights
NOW's Actions Against CBS and the Focus on the Family 2010 Super Bowl Ad

The outpouring of support for our effort to get CBS to pull a Focus on the Family ad from the Super Bowl lineup was phenomenal. We just wanted to say thank you!

Even though CBS aired the ad, your support helped us mobilize NOW activists around the country. With our allies, we activated hundreds of thousands to protest the ad -- and in the process we've raised awareness of the escalating threats to women's right to have access to safe, legal abortion.

Here is an overview of just some of the work NOW activists and officers did when called to action, from the grassroots to media outreach. Did you plan or participate in an action? Let us know!

Grassroots Action

Our grassroots sprung into action -- from New York City to Phoenix, Ariz., to Florida, NOW activists picketed, wrote letters, signed petitions and sent emails urging CBS to pull the ad. That's what NOW is all about -- our grassroots network is ready to take action whenever and wherever women's rights are threatened.

Media Outreach

NOW got the word out through traditional media and social media to fight CBS. Everything from our own blogs and social networks to ABC News and CNN's Larry King.

NOW Blogs

• Focus on the Family's Anti-Abortion Super Bowl Ad: Just Say No Thanks!, Say It, Sister!
• Scott Roeder, Focus on the Family and the Super Bowl, Say It, Sister!
• CBS to Air Anti-Abortion Ad During Super Bowl, Media Hall of Shame
• Super Bowl Ads - Same Old Sexism for Sale, Say It, Sister!

Mainstream Media: Appearances

NOW President Terry O'Neill
• Sarah's Super Bowl Sneak, NOW President Terry O'Neill in WRC-TV, NBC affiliate in DC (2/3/10)
• NOW President Terry O'Neill on Larry King (2/1/10)
• Palin defends Tebow, NOW President Terry O'Neill on Ed Schultz (2/1/10)
• Sarah Palin, NOW Spar Over Tim Tebow's Super Bowl Ad, NOW President Terry O'Neill in Politics Daily (1/29/10)
• NOW: Palin "Missing Our Point" on Tebow Super Bowl Ad, NOW President Terry O'Neill in CBS News "Political HotSheet" (1/29/10)
• NOW tackles Palin over Tebow ad, NOW President Terry O'Neill in Politico (1/28/10)
• Women's groups urge CBS to drop Tebow Super Bowl ad, NOW President Terry O'Neill in the Associated Press (1/26/10)
• Women's groups call for CBS to pull Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad NOW President Terry O'Neill in the LA Times (1/26/10)

Vice President of Action Erin Matson
• What Tim Tebow's Super Bowl ad can teach the pro-choice movement, Vice President of Action Erin Matson in the Washington Post (1/31/10)
• Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad: Anti-Abortion Commercial to Air, Vice President of Action Erin Matson on ABC World News (1/26/10)
• Tebow Super Bowl Ad: Anti-Abortion or Family Values?, Vice President of Action Erin Matson on MSNBC (1/26/10)

Mainstream Media: Mentions

• Henderson: NOW's take on Tebow ad trivializes real problems, MSNBC.com (2/9/10)
• Super Bowl ads: Betty White, Bud Light, big laughs, Seattle Times (2/7/10)
• After weeks of furor, public gets to see Tebow ad, Associated Press (2/5/10)
• NOW Pickets CBS 5 Building, KPHO, Phoenix (2/5/10)
• Super Bowl Saints inspire revived New Orleans, CNN (2/5/10)
• Obama uses prayer event to appeal for civility, Washington Times (2/5/10)
• Super Bowl issue ads on offense, SF Chronicle (2/4/10)
• No coming-out party for Super Bowl, LA Times (2/2/10)
• An Advocacy Ad Stirs a National Debate, New York Times (2/1/10)
• Super Bowl Censorship, New York Times Op-ed (1/30/10)
• Why Is CBS in Bed With the Religious Right on Super Bowl Sunday?, Huffington Post (1/30/10)
• CBS = Cancel Broadcast Sexism: Women's Media Center Launches Video Campaign, RH Reality Check (1/27/10)
• Women's groups protest Tim Tebow's pro-life Super Bowl ad for Focus on the Family, NY Daily News (1/26/10)
• In taking a stand, Tebow stands apart from peers, USA Today (1/26/10)