FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: MELINDA SHELTON, 767, DIANE MINOR, 773
WHO: U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. (Ret.) and NOW National Secretary Karen Johnson and other NOW and women's rights leaders
WHAT: Will hold a demonstration
WHEN: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, 1996
WHERE: Outside the U.S. Supreme Court, 1st and Maryland Sts., N.E.
WHY: To protest the Virginia Military Institute's male-only admissions policy.
"The Virginia Military Institute's blatantly gender-biased admissions policy systematically and unconstitutionally excludes women," said NOW National Secretary Karen Johnson. "And VMI's shallow claim that the program at Mary Baldwin is an acceptable alternative is ludicrous. VMI and Mary Baldwin are the epitome of separate and UNequal. Public institutions such as VMI and The Citadel must not be allowed to practice sex discrimination."
Johnson and other female military officers filed a "friend of the court" brief, and NOW joined other women's rights groups in a similar brief supporting the federal government's case against VMI. She and additional NOW officers are available for further comment through the NOW Press Office, (202)331-0066.
NOW's participation in this protest of VMI's attack on equal opportunities is part of its 1996 Equality Countdown Campaign. A major highlight of the campaign is the Fight the Right March and Rally set for April 14 in San Francisco.