Contact: JENI HYDER, DIANE MINOR

NOW VP BARNSTORMS NEW YORK , CALLS FOR MASS MOBILIZATION AGAINST THE CONSERVATIVE BACKLASH

"It's time to let elected members of the radical right and their supporters know that women and men of conscience will not stand by and watch them reinstitute sexism, bigotry and violence designed to put us `in our place,'" Dempsey said. "This includes the violence in our homes and in the streets, anti-abortion terrorism and the tyrannical measures of New York's politicos who are waging a war on poor women and writing their own little Contract ON America."

On a whirlwind tour of 16 New York colleges in 13 days, Dempsey is giving campus-wide speeches on "Changing the Culture of Violence Against Women," conducting grassroots organizing workshops, and meeting with activists dedicated to mobilizing a mass convoy to attend NOW's April 9 Rally for Women's Lives in Washington. She is participating in "zap actions," rallies and press conferences around the state.

"We've got to expose Newt and his cronies for the misogynists they really are," Dempsey said. "They lay blame for the country's problems at the feet of "out-of-line" women: "femi-nazis," welfare moms, immigrant women, working women, lesbians, single moms and those political women who by their mere presence have made Congress and the White House too "fem-centric, according to the new majority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives."

"On April 9, women and men from around the country will make their voices heard, letting America know that supporting anti- abortion terrorism, welfare reform that punishes poor women and children, and defunding of education and career opportunities programs for women and people of color are all forms of violence which hurt women -- just like rape and domestic violence," Dempsey said.

Dempsey is an activist attorney who founded one of the first battered women's shelters in the country and organized New Jersey's first Women Take Back the Night marches. Since being elected NOW's Action Vice President in 1990, Dempsey has traveled to campuses around the country, motivating thousands of people to attend NOW's record-breaking 1992 abortion rights rally.

To find out when Rosemary Dempsey will be in your area or to set up a phone or in-person interview, contact Jeni Hyder at 202- 331-0066.

Rosemary Dempsey's tour to mobilize New York activists is part of NOW's 100 Days of Action designed to counter Republican plans for the first 100 Days of Congress, as spelled out in the Contract ON America. NOW's actions will culminate in a massive Rally for Women's Lives April 9 on the mall in front of the U.S. Capitol.