Middlesex County NOW Newsletter, January 2016

Middlesex County NOW PO Box 1432, Highland Park, NJ 08904

January, 2016

43nd Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, January 22, 2016

Officers President – Skip Drumm Vice President – Mary Pranzatelli Secretary – Alan Gross Treasurer – Stephany Kim Diversity Officer – Niral Patel State Board Rep – Mary Pranzatelli Newsletter Editor – Skip Drumm Newsletter Asst Editor – Alan Gross Rich (left) and John with big smiles after Our Next Meeting receiving the Service Appreciation Plaque Our next meeting will be Monday, January from the chapter. 11th, at 7 pm at the home of Alan and Skip. Dinner will be served, courtesy of our hosts. Let us know if you're planning to attend, so we can plan food. The 2016 schedule of meetings is posted on our web site, Middlesex.nownj.org.

Local Chapter Information:

Elections and Holiday Party A quiet moment during the party. Upwards As advertised previously, the chapter held of 20 people and one poodle, visible at the its annual elections meeting and holiday left, enjoyed the hospitality. party on December 14th at Rich Harrison and John Campbell’s home. During the Emergency Vigil Against Islamophobia short, 8-minute meeting, the officers listed and Racism above were unanimously elected for 2016. On Saturday, December 12, 2015, several In addition, the chapter presented a plaque of our chapter members participated in the to John and Rich “in recognition and deep Emergency Vigil Against Islamophobia and appreciation for [their] decades of service Racism held in Highland Park. The event to Middlesex County NOW-NJ.” Below are was quite successful with over 100 people a couple of pictures taken by Alan Gross attending and a lot of support from the during the evening. Contact the chapter if passersby. The picture below from the you would like a link to full-size copies of all Star Ledger features chapter member of Alan’s pictures. Middlesex County NOW PO Box 1432, Highland Park, NJ 08904

Dorothy Schwartz holding the poster with women for a long time. But for the most the STOP sign. Other pictures can be part, corporations lag way behind. Here are seen here. four ways to close the "giving gap."

Why Do We Need Gender Parity? 'Because It's 2015' By Brigitte Vittrup, WeNews commentator. Gender stereotypes and beliefs in male superiority are still freely expressed in the U.S. When girls get social cues to doubt their abilities that shows up in measurable ways. Just check the latest Global Gender Gap report.

D.C. Teens Welcome Self-Defense Classes in School By Helen Malhotra, Teen Voices at Women's eNews. What if NOW Endorses Edwards for Senate in "self-defense" made its way into school Maryland December 15, 2015. NOW curriculum? Students at Woodrow Wilson PAC, the political action committee of the High School in Washington, D.C., would be National Organization for Women (NOW), thrilled. endorsed Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD) today in her race for the 'Bleeding Heart' Tale of Two Sisters United States Senate in Maryland. Click Profoundly Provocative By Jennifer here for the full NOW press release. Merin, WeNews film critic. This drama raises vital questions about women's NOW renews call for federal investi- relationships. Also opening today, Dec. 11, gation into Sandra Bland’s death is "The Girl in the Book," with a bit of a December 30, 2015. Anyone who doubts contrived plot but strong performances. that the U.S. criminal justice system is in crisis need look no further than Waller World Commemorates 16 Days of County, Texas, where a grand jury has Activism Against Gender-Based declined to issue any indictments in con- Violence By Tricia Taormina, WeNews nection with the death of Sandra Bland… correspondent. Around the world, civil Click here for the full NOW press release. society groups and individuals commemorated the United Nations' 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. Here's a look at some of the News and discussion from events that have taken place. womensenews.org: For Muslim Girls in Canada, Parental Let's Make Corporate Giving Count Rules Cause Social Stress By Grace More for Girls, Women By Amy-Willard Tang, Teen Voices at Women's eNews. Cross, WeNews commentator. To give Varied interpretations of the Quran are credit where it is due, some companies widely linked to Islamophobia and global such as Avon have been giving to girls and terrorism. Less is said about the strain it Middlesex County NOW PO Box 1432, Highland Park, NJ 08904

can also cause within families. These girls 13 Must-Read U.S. Women's Movement strive to be good daughters and good Books For Those Under 45 By Rita Muslims. But what about being good Henley Jensen, WeNews editor in chief. friends to male classmates too? Here's my list, what books are on yours? Send us your favorite, your top five or top Teen Calls Out Fashion Brand for Fat 10. Let's build the nonfiction canon of Shaming By Rising Voices Fellowship, women's history! Take a break over the Teen Voices partner commentator. Writer holidays and email WeNews at Abby Richmond loves fashion, but not the [email protected]. exclusive body ideals promoted by companies like Brandy Melville. Hillary Clinton Heads into 2016 with Female Edge in Iowa By Sharon Guess Who's Driving California's Johnson, WeNews senior correspondent. Gender Agenda By Susan Rose, As the Democrats get closer to their first WeNews commentator. The answer is two primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire women. Legislation sponsored by women in early February, the front runner's lead for women is booming at all levels. The with female voters can't be taken for governor just signed the nation's strongest granted given Bernie Sanders' strength on equal-pay law and the mayor of Los such issues as the high cost of education Angeles wants a gender-equity plan from and health care. Campaign finance reform every city department on his desk by also... February. Gender Parity in Violence? Not by a Lawmakers Shift Campus Rape Long Shot By James Garbarino, WeNews Conversation to High Schools By commentator. Why are killers usually Elizabeth Zwerling, WeNews male? It's a question worth exploring when correspondent. This week federal the emergence of female terrorists could legislators are expected to approve the make the media even more prone to gloss Teach Safe Relationships Act, which seeks over the maleness factor in U.S. mass to get high school students focused on killings. healthy relationships. The bill, which has been rolled into the overhauled No Child In Ukraine, Women Are Holding Shadow Left Behind, is based on the premise that Peace Talks By Tricia Taormina, WeNews sexual-assault-prevention training... correspondent. In the absence of women's representation in government-led peace Maggie Smith is Smashing as 'The Lady talks, women's groups are leading conflict in the Van' By Jennifer Merin, WeNews resolution dialogues for eastern Ukraine. correspondent. Her performance alone makes this movie a major must-see. Read Planned Parenthood Attacks Intensify on for more about other Dec. 4 openers, Pressure on Independent Clinics By including Spike Lee's liberal adaptation of Sharon Johnson, WeNews senior "Lysistrata" to the murderous world of correspondent. These abortion clinics Chicago today. have fewer resources but are exposed to the same if not worse risks. "The longer the expanded protests continue, the greater Middlesex County NOW PO Box 1432, Highland Park, NJ 08904

the risks of copycat crimes like the arsons On December 1, World AIDS Day, the U.S. at the four Planned Parenthood clinics this President's Emergency Plan for AIDS summer," says the director of one clinic. Relief (PEPFAR) announced it will partner with Johnson & Johnson, Gilead Sciences and ViiV Healthcare to reduce AIDS From the Feminist News infection of young women and girls globally. Digest (feminist.org): Candlelight Vigil Calls for an End to National Young Feminist Leadership Anti-Abortion Terrorism The first week of Conference The Feminist Majority December, dozens of activists gathered Campus Team is “thrilled to announce the outside the Supreme Court for a candlelight 12th Annual National Young Feminist vigil calling for an end to anti-abortion Leadership Conference will be taking terrorism. place from March 12-14, 2016, in the Washington, D.C. area.” Follow the link for Abortion Clinics Nationwide Stay Open more information. Despite Threats Despite increasing threats for over one year and the tragic Egypt’s President Issues Decree shooting at the Colorado Springs Planned Outlawing Child Marriage In an attempt Parenthood, clinics nationwide stay opened to outlaw child marriage in the country, over the following weekend and performed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi vitally necessary health services for issued a decree making it illegal for women. Egyptians to get married before the age of 18. Sierra Leone Legalizes Abortion The Safe Abortion Act that passed this week Congress Renews Push to Defund with an overwhelming majority support in Planned Parenthood, Repeal Affordable the parliament will make the abortion Care Act Despite a mass shooting at the procedure legal in Sierra Leone. Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood last week, Senate Republicans stepped up Holtzclaw Convicted of Rape, Sexual efforts to dismantle the reproductive Battery After 45 hours of deliberations, a healthcare provider by pushing forward a jury found former Oklahoma City police bill yesterday to defund the organization. officer Daniel Holtzclaw guilty on 18 charges, including rape and sexual battery, Pentagon Announces Women Can Now for assaulting 13 black women over the Serve in All Military Combat Roles course of seven months while on duty. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced today that all military combat jobs will be Affirmative Action Returns to SCOTUS opened up to women beginning next year, For the second time in three years, the adding that “there will be no exceptions.” Supreme Court heard arguments in Fisher v. University of Texas, the case that On World AIDS Day, PEPFAR threatens to destroy affirmative action. Announces Partnership Targeting Infection of Young Women and Girls Middlesex County NOW PO Box 1432, Highland Park, NJ 08904

Suspect in Colorado Planned Our chapter has a Facebook page, which Parenthood Shooting Charged in Court, you can see here. If you have not already Exclaims “I’m Guilty” Robert Dear, the “liked” us, please do so! man accused of killing three and injuring nine at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs in late November, was Do you receive National NOW’s emails formally charged with 179 felony counts. and action alerts? If you enjoy this newsletter and don’t already receive e-mail State Lawmakers From 10 Staes from National NOW, consider going to their Advocate For Debt-Free College State web site, www.now.org. Near the top of legislators demonstrated their commitment the left-hand column is a box to enter your to addressing the ever-growing student e-mail address. Then press the “go” debt crisis in the US by announcing their button. It’s as easy as that! support of new legislation making public colleges debt-free. Guest Contributors to our Newsletter Angela Merkel Named TIME’s 2015 are welcome! Person of the Year German Chancellor Send articles, poetry, and other items of Angela Merkel was named Time’s 2015 interest to the chapter at Person of the Year for her leadership on [email protected]. the Syrian refugee and Greek debt crises.

Supreme Court Rejects Latest Delay What issues would you like to see our Tactic by Center for Medical Progress chapter address? On Friday, the Supreme Court denied an Please reply to [email protected]. emergency request from the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) that would have allowed the anti-abortion group to avoid How to Contact your State and National disclosing the names of key supporters Legislators: “intimately involved in the planning and Find your New Jersey Assembly and funding for the Center’s alleged Senate representatives at conspiracy.” www.njleg.state.nj.us.

Feminist Jobs For the U.S. House and Senate, go to The Feminist Majority Foundation has a www.Congress.org, and enter your zip jobs listing service which can be accessed code to find your legislators and their from their web site or directly at contact information. jobs.feminist.org.

Our friends in the Gay Activist Alliance of General Information Morris County (GAAMC) publish a monthly newsletter with interesting articles, opinions, and event announcements. You “ Like” Us on Facebook can read it here: http://issuu.com/gaamc.