NOW Builds Upon Energy, Passion from March for Women's Lives to Launch "10 For Change" Voter Registration Campaign

April 25, 2004

Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy

Today is truly a historic day for women's rights. The March for Women's Lives has brought together more than a million people who believe that the fight for reproductive freedom deserves their energy, their passion and their commitment. They have come from across the nation and around the world to demand access to the full range of reproductive health options—for women and girls of all ages, races, ethnicities, economic classes, religious beliefs, sexual orientations and abilities.

The million marchers here in Washington, D.C., represent tens of millions more at home who are unified on these demands and dedicated to protecting our right to abortion, birth control and all reproductive services, including our right to have children and determine our own family formations without government interference.

Women's lives and health are on the line as never before, and the National Organization for Women is determined to take reproductive rights off the bargaining table—forever. Women's lives and liberties are not negotiable.

Today NOW and our sister organization, NOW Foundation, are launching the 10 for Change campaign. The mission of 10 for Change is to give people an easy way to make a difference and to bring an unprecedented number of voters to the polls on Nov. 2. This campaign will seize the momentum generated by the march and use it to expand political participation in communities across the country. By turning one vote into 10 votes, 10 votes into 100, 100 votes into 1,000, and so on . . . we can build a more vibrant, healthy democracy in the U.S.

We will not let this powerful moment fade. This march is only the beginning of a massive effort to advance the lives of women and girls.

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