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NEWS & LETTERS, July-August 2005NOW rally to preserve women's rightsNashville, Tenn.--When I left for the national NOW (National Organization for Women) conference here the first weekend in July, little did I know that it would occur when Justice Sandra Day O'Connor decided to retire. Although the right to choose was the main issue, other concerns where O'Connor's vote made a difference included cases involving affirmative action and sodomy. When the news came down of the O'Connor vacancy, the leadership of Tennessee and Nashville NOW went into action and called for a rally to take place the next day at noon in Legislative Plaza. (This is the spot where the vote to ratify the 19th amendment, which gave the right to vote for all women, took place.) A press conference occurred on Friday and speakers included NOW President Kim Gandy, Eleanor Smeal representing her organization, Feminist Majority and the former ambassador, Carol Moseley-Braun. At the rally other organizations were represented including Dolores Huerta of the United Farm Workers and Martha Burk of the National Council of Women's Organizations as well as local leaders. Due to time considerations other leaders, such as Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange and Code Pink, were announced but did not give speeches. At the same time we supported the struggle going on in Nashville to reinstate local disability rights. A group of disabled activists were engaged in an ongoing sit-in at the Capitol for disability rights as cuts in the state's program were being considered. Meanwhile, the conference continued with ongoing workshops, political institutes, issue hearings and films being presented at the same time. Issue hearings dealt with such subjects as Civil Rights and Racism, Constitutional Equality and Legal Strategies. Workshops (22 held) included "Seeking Justice for Poor and Struggling Families" and "Call Off the Vigilantes: Where is the Safe Harbor for Immigrant Women?" On Sunday, we voted on the work NOW will do from the 20 resolutions brought forth to the body of the delegates from the issue hearings and petitions that had at least 100 signatures. A few of the resolutions that passed addressed "Strategic Nonviolent Resistance," "Transgendered Inclusion" and "Stop the War"(Iraq). --Sue S. |
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