National women's
group rallies to preserve
abortion rights
NOW in Nashville for
annual conference
By TERRANCE DEAN,
from Tennessean.com on the Web, July 3, 2005
Nashville wasn't quiet at the start
of this Fourth of July weekend.
Hundreds of members of the National Organization for Women rallied for abortion
rights yesterday as President Bush prepares to select a new U.S. Supreme Court
justice to replace retiring Sandra Day O'Connor.
"Not the church, not the state; women must choose their fate," they chanted at
the steps of the War Memorial Legislative Plaza.
They said they were trying to send a message to Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist, R-Tenn., that "We won't go back."
The women were here for NOW's annual national conference. The meeting is
at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel.
"This is truly historic," said Kim Gandy, president of NOW, referring to the
fact that a Tennessee state lawmaker cast the deciding vote that gave women the
right to vote.
"This is where Harry Brown put women in the Constitution for the first time,"
Gandy said.
"We will not let them turn back the clock on the rights of women. Women
will not be pushed back. Minorities will not be pushed back, nor will
people with disabilities be pushed back."
The right to vote, abortion, and workplace discrimination are some of the issues
of concern to NOW.
The rally yesterday featured speakers Dolores Huerta, co-founder of United Farm
Workers; Eleanor Smeal, president, Feminist Majority; Carol Moseley Braun,
former ambassador, U.S. senator and 2004 presidential candidate, and Gandy.
They talked yesterday about the importance of Bush appointing a moderate.
"We have everything on the line," Smeal said.
"We must be at every capitol and every senator's office. We will not be
marginalized."
NOW, founded in 1966, counts 500,000 contributing members and 550 chapters in
all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Across the street from the War Memorial Plaza on the steps of the state Capitol
was a small group opposing the NOW rally.
Betty Romeo, volunteer coordinator for the group Respect Life and her daughter,
Natasha, held signs saying NOW doesn't speak for them.
"I hope Roe vs. Wade gets overturned," Betty Romeo said.
"They should allow the states and the people to vote if they want it. I
believe that there is a majority of people here in Tennessee who would vote in
the favor of overturning it."
Respect Life raises money to help women who have no alternatives or people to
assist them with housing, health care and child assistance.
Natasha, Romeo, 17, a student at Father Ryan High School, said that there are a
lot of young people actively involved in the pro-life Respect Life group at her
school and across the country.
"A lot of my friends are involved," she said. "We've gone to D.C. and
marched in rallies. There are so many young people in my age group that
are activists."
Moseley Braun told the crowd, "Every person here today can use their voice.
Every American has the right to decide for themselves."
Cynthia Bennett, president of Tennessee NOW, said it was the ideal time to have
NOW in the state.
"This is great to be hosting the conference here, especially this weekend.
Feminism is still relevant to us and our generation. Especially here in
Tennessee."
Bennett said that there are more than 200 members involved with the Nashville
chapter of NOW
and more than 1,000 members in Tennessee.
"We won't accept a right-wing justice," Bennett said. "They will listen to
us. All of us."
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