New Topics, Exciting Keynote, Diverse Attendees at 2019 State Conference on 11/9/19

The 2019 State Conference in Charlotte on 11/9/19 included new topics, an exciting keynote, diverse attendees and many first timers. We had members and attendees from 18 to 80 and Rep. Deb Butler’s speech was a highlight for all! Our conference theme was “The Time For Justice Is NOW.” NOW covers all issues affecting women, but we delved into a few new areas for NC NOW – how climate change hurts women and gender equity.  NC NOW officers were elected, an annual task. We also hosted a panel on threats to reproductive access, an update on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), six workshops and more. We were honored to include a tribute to long time feminist activist and NC NOW board member Jan Allen.

Conference view from the back. Photo Credit: Gailya Paliga

Media Advisory: The Time For Justice Is NOW on 11/9/19 (NC NOW State Conference)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Gailya Paliga, President, NC National Organization for Women, president@raleighnow.org
Melba Evans, President, Charlotte NOW, cltnow@yahoo.com

November 3, 2019

***MEDIA ADVISORY*** 

The Time For Justice Is NOW: NC NOW State Conference on 11/9/19

Raleigh, NC – There are many examples of injustice around us: women’s health being targeted, disparities in school suspensions along racial lines, women’s reports of sexual assault and harassment being discounted, treatment of migrants and immigrants, mass incarceration of minorities, underpayment for women’s work, re-segregation of our schools to name just a few. NC National Organization for Women is working on some of these issues at our annual conference on Saturday, November 9, 2019, in Charlotte.

NC NOW Legislative Update #26 – 8/26/19

North Carolina NOW Legislative Update—August 26, 2019

Jump to the full summary and listing of bills NC NOW is tracking at NC NOW Legislative Update #26 (26Aug19).

Billboards Supporting the Equal Rights Amendment Unveiled in Press Conference

Senator Terry Van Duyn, Marena Groll, Gailya Paliga, Lori Bunton in in back with ERA sign, Senator Floyd McKissick, Jane Terwilliger, Rep. Julie von Haefen, Rep. Susan Fisher. Photo Credit: Senator Floyd McKissick

North Carolina NOW, in partnership with AAUW and the ERA-NC Alliance, held a press conference at the legislature on August 22 to launch our statewide campaign to raise awareness of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).  Four billboards calling for the ratification of the ERA have been installed statewide. 

Media Advisory: Stand up for immigrants and the right to asylum – 7/30/19

MEDIA ADVISORY: Stand up for immigrants and the right to asylum – 7/30/19

For Immediate Release

Contacts:
Michael Eisenberg, Tuesdays With Tillis
Moisés Serrano, Political Director at El Pueblo
Gailya Paliga, President of NC National Organization for Women

July 30, 2019

Tuesdays With Tillis, El Pueblo, NC National Organization for Women, and the Immigration and Refugee Program bring more attention to the constant attacks on immigrants led by the Trump administration.

Raleigh, NC – The Trump administration is continuing to attack refugee resettlement programs and asylum seekers. We must remind Senator Thom Tillis and President Trump that refugee resettlement and seeking asylum are two separate LEGAL programs that are desperately needed. These programs give refugees and immigrants the opportunity to find safety in this country and their lives should not be used in political football. Our event speakers include migrants and refugees who have been directly affected by policy changes. We raise and highlight their voices so Tillis, our community, and other politicians understand the damage being caused and what is at stake.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Close The Camps, Stop The ICE Raids – 7/16/19

For Immediate Release

Contacts:
Karen Ziegler, Tuesdays With Tillis Organizer and Emcee
Gailya Paliga, President of NC National Organization for Women

July 15, 2019

Tuesdays With Tillis, El Pueblo, NC National Organization for Women, and MomsRisingNC bring more attention on subhuman conditions in detention camps and terror and frightening consequences of ICE raids on immigrants.

Raleigh, NC – The Trump administration is tearing families apart and keeping children and adults in subhuman conditions in detention camps. Many psychologists say this treatment is causing severe and possibly lifelong trauma.

However, something new is happening because of the visuals and stories coming to us from the southern border and from detention centers all over the country.  Increasing numbers of Americans are upset enough to take to the streets.

Stand Up for Immigrants, Immigrant Children – 7/12/19

Hope you know about these “Lights For Liberty” rallies around the state and country on Friday, July 12, 2019, starting at 7pm. We expect many people to show up in support of immigrants. NOW Condemns Sexist and Racist Behavior by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agents. VOX has a great article about who is benefitting from these terrible camps and more humane and less expensive ways to track immigrants and asylum seekers – “Reminder: Trump doesn’t need to keep migrants in detention camps,” 7/4/19.

Eliezar Posada speaking on at “Stop the Terror, Close the Camps” in Raleigh on 7/2/19. Photo Credit: Karen Ziegler, who was also the emcee.

This picture is from a Raleigh demonstration with 300-400 people, including women, men, moms, children and babies in Raleigh on Tuesday, 7/2/19, and that was at lunch time. These Lights of Liberty demonstrations are all after work, 7pm.

NC NOW Legislative Update #7, GOP Overreach ICE and Medicaid Bill Issue– 18 Mar 19

See whole NC NOW Legislative Update #7.18Mar19 here.

In 2018, voters in North Carolina’s biggest counties elected seven new sheriffs who campaigned on pledges to no longer work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) because their practices have become increasingly brutal under the Trump administration.  The will of the voters was clear.  But this week Republicans filed a bill (HB370) that would force sheriffs to cooperate with ICE or face fines of up to $25,500 per day.  This bill is yet another example of the conservative Republican majority in the legislature attempting to force its agenda on urban counties that elect more moderate to liberal Democrats to local offices. This bill has the support of Republican leadership; Governor Cooper has not stated a position.  For more information, see https://abc11.com/politics/nc-republicans-file-bill-to-force-county-sheriffs-to-work-with-ice/5194070/

Sign from Tuesdays With Tillis protest against ICE taking children. Photo Credit: Michael Eisenberg

The drive to expand Medicaid hit an unexpected hitch this week.  Expanding Medicaid is a priority of Cooper’s legislative agenda, and companion bills (SB3/HB5) have been introduced in both the House and Senate.  But hopes for passage of a bill during this session (2019-2020) were crushed through a rookie error by a freshman legislator. 

Stop Kavanaugh Events Around NC – starting 9/4/18

The Senate Confirmation Hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh begin on 9/4/18. Protests are planned around the state this week, many on Tuesday, September 4th. Feel free to make your own and post in a comment or email president at raleighnow.org so we can help advertise. 

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These events are focused on our US Senators, Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, since our Senators get to vote on this nomination. In fact, it is their Senate duty of “advice and consent.” Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate. The Senate’s job is to make sure the nominee is qualified, and if not, to vote no. 

#SaveScotus rally in Raleigh on 7/10/18 with Tuesdays With Tillis group. Photo Credit: Gailya Paliga

Raleigh at Tillis’ office- The weekly Tuesdays With Tillis rally topic is “Stop Kavanaugh.” We always have a great showing for these, but this week we’re pulling in speakers on a variety of topics – reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, civil rights/discrimination, environment, workers’ rights, abortion access threats, immigrant rights, threats to Planned Parenthood services. These areas and more are threatened should Brett Kavanaugh get a lifetime appointment on the US Supreme Court.
Date: Tuesday, 9/4/18
Time: 11:30am-12:30pm
Place: 310 New Bern Ave, Raleigh NC
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/587332478330068/.

Charlotte  – Grassroots protest on the first day of confirmation hearings.

NOW Charlotte Supporting County Opposition to 287g

NOW Charlotte was well represented at the Mecklenburg County Commissioner’s meeting on March 20, 2018, supporting county opposition to 287g. The federal 287g program is a collaboration between state or local law enforcement and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) federal program that allows local law enforcement to carry out immigration enforcement duties. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office has deported over 15,000 people in Mecklenburg County. NOW Charlotte signed onto an anti-287g letter that was signed by over 40 organizations demanding the end of the program.

Deportation Can Be A Death Sentence

What many Americans don’t understand is that deportation can be a death sentence.

According to “When Deportation Is A Death Sentence,” 1/15/18, New Yorker, “Hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. may face violence and murder in their home countries. ” What about “the U.S. government’s duty to protect prospective deportees who plead for their lives”?

“Before Laura crossed the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge into Mexico, she turned to the Border Patrol agent supervising her return to Mexico. “When I am found dead,” she told him, “it will be on your conscience.”” She was murdered.

On 3/6/18, our Tuesdays With Tillis protest is for a Clean DREAM Act and Justice For Immigrants. The facebook event can be found here. El Centro and El Pueblo organized the program. They give us some more stats on how deportation is a death sentence.

Defend DACA Protest from January 2018; Photo Credit: Jacalyn Engler