Bush signs the so-called Partial Birth Abortion Act and NOW activists protest outside of the Supreme Court

I'm sure you share my outrage over Wednesday's terrible Supreme Court decision that ended Roe v. Wade's longstanding protections for women's health. Even the New York Times called the decision dishonest. As an attorney, I have never witnessed such condescension toward women (combined with a disregard for women's health and well-being) coming from our highest court.

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Moving forward, we must work together to protect women's reproductive freedom, including working to pass the Freedom of Choice Act, and NOW needs your support to launch the campaign.

Yesterday I was pleased to stand with Senator Barbara Boxer, Representative Jerrold Nadler and many members of Congress as they announced the reintroduction of this important act, which would legislatively reverse the Court's damaging decision and will enshrine in federal law our right to safe, legal abortion.

The need for it has never been more clear, and we have to work hard to pass this important bill. But we must have the resources to carry out an extended campaign. Please support NOW's work to pass the Freedom of Choice Act and protect the rights of every woman through this federal statute.

Don't think it will be easy. We should not mistake this Democratic-controlled Congress for a pro-woman Congress. Our ultimate success depends on electing a president who will sign the legislation and electing a Congress that can withstand any challenge or filibuster.

With your help, we will continue to fight at every level, while following through on our pledge to elect a Congress and a president who will support women's rights. You'll be hearing more about the Freedom of Choice Act in the weeks to come, but in the meantime please support our work as we gear up to protect abortion rights and expand access to family planning.

Thank you for standing with us!

For equality,

Kim Gandy's signature

Kim Gandy
President, National Organization for Women

P. S. Go to our website where you will find a wealth of information about the Supreme Court decision and how you can become a part of NOW's work for women's lives. I'm also including my statement from yesterday below in case you didn't see it.


Freedom of Choice Act is Needed More Than Ever

Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy

April 19, 2007

In the wake of yesterday's Supreme Court Gonzales decision, women's rights supporters in Congress took immediate action, and I'm pleased to stand with them today to welcome the timely reintroduction of the Freedom of Choice Act of 2007.

Let this decision—which reversed a clear precedent requiring that a woman's health be protected—be a lesson to those Senators who thought it unseemly to filibuster Sam Alito's nomination. It is clear that this precedent, set in Roe and reaffirmed in Casey, was abandoned for no reason other than the replacement of Sandra Day O'Connor with Sam Alito.

Let this be a lesson to those Senators who said that O'Connor's seat was not "the important one," and who therefore did not put their considerable influence behind filling that seat with, if not a woman, at least a women's rights supporter.

Let this be a lesson to the newspaper editors who denounced the Alito filibuster and urged his confirmation—but who now rail against this inevitable outcome.

They are lessons the women of this country will not soon forget.

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