ALERT: NOW ACTIVISTS TO PROTEST AT WHITE HOUSE TODAY OVER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S COMMENTS ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

CONTACT: MELINDA SHELTON, DIANE MINOR

MARCH 6, 1995

WHO: NOW President Patricia Ireland, NOW activists and allies

WHAT: Demonstration protesting President Clinton's comments Friday that affirmative action should be "needs based"

WHERE: White House, Pennsylvania Avenue side

WHEN: Today, Monday, March 6, 12:30 p.m.

WHY:

To provide a reality check to counter President Clinton's apparent policy making by the polls, in which he says affirmative action should be "needs based" because more people favor that approach. Do most women and people of color really believe the workplace is so free from discrimination that affirmative action is no longer needed?
To call for a quota on the number of new buzzwords that can be thrown out to misrepresent the goal and effect of affirmative action.
To say quite clearly that losing affirmative action means that women and people of color will lose their jobs.