TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1995
NOW leaders will use the 1995 National Conference, a march and rally in Columbus, Ohio, July 21-23, to gear up for the 1996 elections and to fortify NOW's grassroots campaign to counter the escalating economic, political and physical attacks against women, poor people and people of color.
"The assaults are increasing, both in scope and meanness, and we will take our voices and issues into the streets of Columbus in protest," said NOW President Patricia Ireland. "Then we'll meet to fine-tune our offense, which will be carried out in voting booths, on Capitol Hill, in state legislatures and city halls, and in streets across the country.
"Conservatives in Congress last week announced plans to raid the Violent Crime Trust Fund. More than three-fourths of the proposed cuts -- $161 million of the $200 million -- are from the Violence Against Women Act programs. Once again, women are forced to carry a disproportionate share of the burden of cuts made under the guise of balancing the national budget."
At the National Conference headquartered at the Hyatt Regency, speakers and workshop participants will address challenges facing the women's rights movement.
Affirmative action is under siege by cynical politicians who want to slam closed the doors of opportunity these programs have opened for women and people of color.
Abortion rights are seriously threatened by the religious right and ultra-conservative politicians. The Ohio legislature recently banned a rarely performed, late-term abortion procedure, other states have also limited abortion accessibility, and several members of Congress have introduced legislation restricting abortions for poor women, women in the military and those assisted by international family planning groups.
Violence Against Women Act programs are at risk, as Congress contemplates cuts in funding for domestic violence hotlines, additional law enforcement personnel and anti-violence education programs. Support for poor women and their families is on the chopping block. The GOP-led Congress proposes welfare cuts designed to punish rather than help poor people, and tax cuts to benefit the very wealthiest individuals and businesses.
"People across the country believe this aggressive tide is moving too far, too fast, and many are against cutting key programs and services simply to fund tax cuts or to balance the budget," Ireland said. "And women know that if affirmative action programs are ended, some of us won't get hired or promoted fairly, some of us might be paid less -- and some of us won't be paid at all.
"Manipulative politicians and the misnamed Christian Coalition are no longer able to pull the wool over voters' eyes. Our momentum increased with the April 9 Rally for Women's Lives in Washington, D.C., when 200,000 activists gathered to oppose the acts of aggression against women and people of color. Now we're shifting into high gear in Columbus, and we're not going to stop until the attacks against women stop."
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Conference dates and location: July 21-23, 1995, Hyatt Regency, Columbus, Ohio.
Press conference: NOW President Patricia Ireland, Friday, July 21, 10 a.m.
March and Rally: Saturday, July 22, 1:15 p.m., from the hotel to the Ohio Statehouse.
Keynote Addresses: Saturday, July 22, 3 p.m., Patricia Ireland; Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Ada Deer ; and Angela Jordan Davis, chair of the board of the National Rainbow Coalition.
Workshops on topics including affirmative action, political organizing, sexual harassment, gay bashing, and constitutional strategizing, will be held throughout the day Friday and Saturday, July 21-22.
Press credentials may be obtained through July 18 by contacting Jena Recer or Melinda Shelton at (202)331-0066. On-site registration and additional conference information will be available at the Hyatt Regency, Grant and Harding Press Rooms, beginning July 20.