6/03/09 - Jackson Area NOW and the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, responses to the murder of Dr. George Tiller
5/30/09 - Statement from Jenni Smith, President, Mississippi National Organization for Women
Women across the country have lost a champion today. The cold-blooded murder of Dr. George Tiller as he was entering his church is a stark reminder that women’s bodies and women’s rights are still a battleground.
The person or persons who are behind the murder of Dr. George Tiller and the hundreds of other assaults, attacks, and threats against doctors, nurses, and staff who provide legal abortion services are part of a movement that uses violence and murder in the name of life.
Bringing the killers to justice is not enough - the Justice Department must root out and prosecute as domestic terrorists and violent racketeers the criminal enterprise that has organized and funded criminal acts for decades. We call on local law enforcement to serve and protect the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and the doctors and staff who are actively working to keep women safe and alive.
Tomorrow will be a Day of Mourning for Dr. Tiller as well as a National Day of Re-Commitment for all who believe abortion must remain both safe and legal.
Our hearts and thoughts are with the Tiller family.
16 WAPT story and news broadcast talking with Dr. Booker and Nancy Kohsin-Kintigh of JWHO
Clarion Ledger: Justice Contacted about Jackson Clinic
CL: Clinic on alert after Kansas doctor killed
CL: Jackson clinic on alert after kansas killing
CL: Miss abortion clinic seeks added security
5/30/09 - 2nd Prop 8 Protest in Jackson had a great turn-out!
About 60 lgbt Mississippians and allies came out to the Fondren district of Jackson to protest the upholding of Proposition 8 in California. People from all around the state including Hattiesburg and Starkville traveled to Jackson to voice their opinion that “equal rights are not special rights” and gay & lesbians deserve marriage equality.
Fox 40 coverage of the protest
Check out our photo section for photographs from the protest!
1/12/09 - AFA protest a success!
MS NOW’s protest at the AFA was a great success! Thanks to all the organizations and individuals that participated. For more information on this event see the “Action” page.
Press Release - 1/10/09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10th, 2009
CONTACT: Jenni Smith
601-566-3722
jen@nowms.org
NOW Challenges American Family Association On Marriage Equality
Mississippi National Organization for Women will be protesting on January 10, 2009, from 12pm-4pm , at the headquarters of the American Family Association at 107 Park Gate Drive in Tupelo, MS. This the second national protest in conjunction with Join the Impact, a group that began organizing supporters of LGBT marriage equality after the passage of Proposition 8 in California.
Because the AFA donated $500,000 to “Yes on 8” a pro-Prop 8 group, members of Jackson Area NOW, Starkville NOW, Mississippi NOW, Unity Mississippi and the Mississippi ACLU decided that this demonstration should take place in Tupelo where the AFA operates. “All people deserve the same rights,” said Mississippi NOW President Jenni Smith. “Our purpose in Tupelo is to remind the American Family Association that all families are important.”
Protest participants will also be collecting signatures on an open letter to President-Elect Obama asking him to repeal DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act) which passed federally in 1996 and defined marriage as between a man and a woman. Join the Impact hopes to collect one million signatures with the help of participants and other supporters.
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For additional comments or interview contact Jenni Smith, President, Mississippi National Organization for Women. jen@nowms.org 601-566-3722
12/06/08 - 4th Annual Walk of Grace
Members of MS NOW participated in the Walk of Grace, an annual 3 mile walk benefiting Grace House an HIV/AIDS transitional living facility located in Jackson, MS.
12/06/08 - ACLU Media Training
Members of Mississippi NOW attended the Media Training hosted by the ACLU of Mississippi.
State President Jenni Smith was a featured speaker on the pannels “Developing talking points and your 60 second message” and “Developing a communications strategy to educate the public about comprehensive sex education”.
Mississippi NOW met with the Mississippi Reproductive Rights Coalition to discuss joint efforts to give Mississippi public school students access to comprehensive sex education.
12/01/08 - World AIDs Day Candlelight Vigil
Members of MS NOW and Jackson Area NOW participated in Unity MS’s World AIDs day candlelight vigil. On the 20th anniversary of World AIDs day we were there to: “reflect upon HIV/AIDS here & abroad with a candlelight vigil to remember those who have been lost to AIDS and are living with HIV/AIDS.”
11/13/08 - Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13th 2008
CONTACT: [Jenni Smith]
[601-566-3722]
[jen.nowms@gmail.com]
Mississippi National Organization For Women
California’s Proposition 8 is a National Issue
Since the passing of California’s Proposition 8 and similar discriminatory amendments in Arizona, Florida and Arkansas on November 4, 2008 LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) people across the United States as well as their friends, family and straight allies have been expressing their outrage. LGBTQ Mississippians experienced this same discrimination and outrage when in 2004, an amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman passed by 86% in Mississippi and, in 2000, our legislature unanimously passed a bill banning adoption by gay and lesbian couples. Writing discrimination into the constitution, federal or state, is unjust. It singles out a group of people and categorizes them as second-class citizens undeserving of legal and economic protections. The millions of gay and lesbian couples in America are entitled to the 400 state benefits and 1,000 federal benefits granted to married couples.
On Saturday, November 15, 2008 the LGBTQ community and their supporters will take to the
streets in what could be the largest organized protest / movement in decades . To date, more than 250,000 individuals have pledged to take part in the nationwide event, in which they will descend upon the City Halls, State Capitols and the Nation’s Capitol to make their voice heard. Signs, posters and numerous websites have already been created and the word is spreading quickly throughout the nation. Jointheimpact.com lists protest locations in all 50 States and the District of Columbia.
NOW is committed to fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in all areas of life. All people have the right to live their lives with dignity, security, and equal rights including marriage. Mississippi NOW will be participating in the local portion of this protest Saturday, November 15th from 12:30-1:30 pm in front of the MS State Capitol Building in Jackson. We urge everyone who supports marriage equality and believes that equal rights are not special rights to join us and speak aloud that we will not tolerate discrimination of any person for any reason.
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For additional comments or interview contact Jenni Smith, President, Mississippi National Organization for Women. Jen.nowms@gmail.com 601-566-3722
11/11/08 - Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 11th 2008
CONTACT: [Jenni Smith]
[601-566-3722]
[jen.nowms@gmail.com]
Mississippi National Organization For Women
Public School Students Entitled to Free Speech
As leaders in the fight for equality and to end racism, The Mississippi National Organization for Women sincerely hopes that all Mississippi public school students take a moment out of their day to say loudly and clearly that: “Barack Obama is our next president.” The recent allegations that public school employees told students not to say the name of President-elect Barack Obama, and even threatened some children with suspension, are beyond comprehension.
The American people have elected Barack Obama to be the next leader of our country. As educators, authority figures, and responsible adults, we all have to communicate to our children the importance of our democracy. Regardless of whether or not these school employees agree with President-elect Obama’s political views, the fact that we are all part of an historic event — the election of the first African-American president — must be realized and respected.
The Mississippi National Organization for Women calls on Superintendent Greg Ladner to send a clear message that these recent actions will not be tolerated. We can no longer stand by and affirm this type of behavior with our silence. Mississippians have the right to be confident that our public school employees are being held to the highest standards and that they are responsible stewards of our children. Mr. Ladner has a duty to the children of his school district, and to the people of Mississippi, to demonstrate that these actions are unacceptable.
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For additional comments or interview contact Jenni Smith, President, Mississippi National Organization for Women. Jen.nowms@gmail.com 601-566-3722
