100 signatures reached
To: Terry O'Neill, National President
Remake or break, NOW!
Is the leadership and membership of the National Organization of Women (NOW) racially and culturally diverse?
Why is this important?
Listed among NOW's priorities is ending racism and promoting diversity. However, they are seemingly a part of the patriarchal supremacist thought machine as they have alienated stay-at-home mothers, limited the number of women of color in leadership positions and as members, and had to be publicly embarrassed by their refusal to admit lesbians. It's difficult to understand the lack of diversity in a national organization for women.
Not until Sandra Bland has NOW spoken up for women of color who have been criminally discriminated against, brutalized, jailed and murdered. Where was the voice of support from NOW for Marissa Alexander, who was jailed, has faced decades in prison and now has a permanent criminal record for protecting her children and herself from an abusive husband and a jaded judicial system? Where was the voice of support from NOW for Bree Newsome, the courageous young woman who removed one of the symbols of dehumanization of immeasurable proportions? Where was the voice of support for the twelve year-old girl whose ribs and jaw were broken by police officers? Where was the voice of NOW when seven year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones was murdered by police in Detroit in 2010 while sleeping in her home? Where is the voice of NOW for the many trans women currently being killed?
The voice of NOW was missing for these women killed during police encounters: Tanisha Anderson in Cleveland 2014, Yvette Smith in Texas 2014, Miriam Carey in Washington, D. C. 2013, Shelly Fry in Houston 2012, Darkish Harris in Louisiana 2012, Malissa Williams in Cleveland 2012, Alesia Thomas in Los Angeles 2012, Shantel Davis in New York 2012, Rekia Boyd in Chicago 2012, Shereese Francis in New York 2012, Tarika Wilson in Ohio 2008, Kathryn Johnston in Atlanta 2006, Alberta Stroll in New York 2003, Kendra James in Portland 2003.
NOW has been asked and has yet to answer: "Is the leadership of NOW racially and culturally diverse? Where are the women of color in leadership positions?" They must make moves to include and help all women or get out of the way ~ remake or break, NOW!
Not until Sandra Bland has NOW spoken up for women of color who have been criminally discriminated against, brutalized, jailed and murdered. Where was the voice of support from NOW for Marissa Alexander, who was jailed, has faced decades in prison and now has a permanent criminal record for protecting her children and herself from an abusive husband and a jaded judicial system? Where was the voice of support from NOW for Bree Newsome, the courageous young woman who removed one of the symbols of dehumanization of immeasurable proportions? Where was the voice of support for the twelve year-old girl whose ribs and jaw were broken by police officers? Where was the voice of NOW when seven year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones was murdered by police in Detroit in 2010 while sleeping in her home? Where is the voice of NOW for the many trans women currently being killed?
The voice of NOW was missing for these women killed during police encounters: Tanisha Anderson in Cleveland 2014, Yvette Smith in Texas 2014, Miriam Carey in Washington, D. C. 2013, Shelly Fry in Houston 2012, Darkish Harris in Louisiana 2012, Malissa Williams in Cleveland 2012, Alesia Thomas in Los Angeles 2012, Shantel Davis in New York 2012, Rekia Boyd in Chicago 2012, Shereese Francis in New York 2012, Tarika Wilson in Ohio 2008, Kathryn Johnston in Atlanta 2006, Alberta Stroll in New York 2003, Kendra James in Portland 2003.
NOW has been asked and has yet to answer: "Is the leadership of NOW racially and culturally diverse? Where are the women of color in leadership positions?" They must make moves to include and help all women or get out of the way ~ remake or break, NOW!