NOW READS SUPREME COURT ACTION ON REDISTRICTING

AS DIRECT ATTACK AGAINST WOMEN, MINORITIES

CONTACT: MELINDA SHELTON,JENA RECER

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1995

"Today's Supreme Court decision is an incredible perversion of the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, and it represents another move to suppress advances made by women and people of color in this country," NOW Action Vice President Rosemary Dempsey said. "It's ironic that the Court now considers redistricting as possibly 'retrogressive' when it is the only tool that's proven progressive in electing more women and people of color to office.

"Redistricting led to the 1992 elections, which changed the face of Congress. A record number of women, African-Americans and Latinos were sent to Washington, D.C., for the first time from many states -- particularly in the South.

"It's obvious that rich, white Republicans are mounting a highly organized, lavishly financed campaign to reclaim the whole pie -- no matter what the cost. Affirmative action programs are in jeopardy, reproductive rights for women are threatened, welfare programs are under attack, and now the Voting Rights Act is under fire. What next?

"NOW and other activist groups are not going to sit back and allow real retrogressive action to take place. We are intensifying our aggressive, grassroots work to get even more women and people of color into office. Today's decision is more fuel for our continued campaign to reach out to those of us under attack: women, the poor, and racial minorities. Voter registration will take place in record numbers, and people who are threatened will fight back.

"Women and people of color comprise two-thirds of the nation's eligible voters, and we won't be ignored by the courts or in voting booths."

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