FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: MIRA WEINSTEIN, 202-331-0066 x705

NOT JUST ANOTHER DIALOGUE: NOW AND CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS TAKE ACTION TO ELIMINATE RACISM

January 6, 1998

What: Women of Color and Allies Summit: Linking Arms in Dangerous Times

In workshops, regional caucus meetings and speeches, summit participants will devise strategies to defend affirmative action, beat back English-only measures, impact the ‘98 election cycle and reverse the feminization of poverty, among other issues.

Who:The National Organization for Women and more than 100 allies, including the National Council of Negro Women, National Congress of American Indians, National Asian Women's Health Organization, Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee, AYUDA, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, YWCA of the USA, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Ms. Magazine, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, United Food and Commercial Workers, Voters for Choice Education Fund, Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, National Welfare Rights Union, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

Confirmed Speakers: Dr. Johnetta Cole, former president of Spelman College; Dolores Huerta, secretary-treasurer and co-founder of United Farm Workers Union; Linda Chavez-Thompson, vice-president of AFL-CIO; Shirley Baca, U.S. congressional candidate from New Mexico.

When: Friday, February 20 through Sunday, February 22, 1998

Where: Washington National Airport Hilton, Arlington, VA

The weekend will feature a demonstration of support for women cleaning workers at the Capitol who are suing under wage discrimination laws. "If the conservatives in Congress can't treat workers in their own building fairly, how can we trust them with the larger issues of systemic racism, sexism and classism?" said NOW President Patricia Ireland.

For more information and a complete list of co-sponors, see www.now.org/wocasummit.html.

Link to this release at http://www.now.org/press/01-98/01-06-98.html