NOW NEWS

NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN FALL 2018

Anita Earls to keynote NC NOW Conference The keynote speaker for cial Justice, a non-profit legal She has been honored to receive NOW’s 2018 advocacy organization the national NAACP Civil Rights state conference will be where she litigated voting Champion Award in 2011. In 2017 Anita Earls, veteran civil rights she received a “Defenders of Jus- attorney and now a candi- tice” award from the NC Justice date for a seat on the North Center and was a “We Are Emily” Carolina Supreme Court. honoree by Emily’s List. Her keynote address will For 30 years Anita Earls has be “Women and the Right to worked passionately protecting Vote in North Carolina: Use It civil rights, fighting for families, and or Lose It.” Today our voting advocating for voting rights and rights are being threatened fair political process. She is known by and vari- for her leadership in litigating suc- ous measures to suppress the cessful challenges to North Caro- vote. Anita Earls has long lina’s “monster voter suppression been a leader actively de- law” and unfair redistricting plans. fending voting rights for all To its shame, North Carolina has North Carolina citizens. been in the national forefront in Her distinguished legal ca- voter suppression and gerryman- reer includes serving as a dering, and these are areas where Deputy Assistant Attorney Anita Earls has had extensive ex- General in the Civil Rights Di- Anita Earls perience. vision of the US Department rights and other civil rights Don’t miss the opportunity to of Justice and directing the cases. She left that position hear Anita Earls speak at this year’s Voting Rights Project at the in January 2018 to run for a North Carolina NOW state confer- Lawyers’ Committee for Civil seat on the North Carolina ence. Register for the conference Rights Under Law. In 2003 she Supreme Court. using the form on page 3 inside this joined Julius Chambers at the Her teaching experience newsletter. UNC Center for Civil Rights as includes serving as an ad- Director of Advocacy. junct professor at the law For the first ten years of schools of the University of her career, she was in private Maryland and the University practice in Charlotte, litigat- of North Carolina and in the ing voting rights, police mis- African and African- conduct, school desegrega- American Studies Depart- tion, and employment dis- ment at . Cur- crimination cases. rently she is teaching attor- Anita Earls was the foun- neys in the Shriver Center’s der and Executive Director of Racial Justice Training Insti- the Southern Coalition for So- tute. NC Women are Running and Winning in Record Numbers

Women candidates openly embracing on their webpages and on social media. issues of concern to women and their fami- Unfortunately, voters may be confused lies are running in record numbers across the because many of our districts had to be re- nation, and male candidates are making drawn to correct unconstitutional gerryman- intensified efforts to address our issues. North dering. The website for the State Board of Carolina is reflecting the national trend. Elections can help you locate your precinct At the congressional level, the two number, voting site, sample ballot and more women incumbents, one Democratic and - https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/ . This website one Republican, will be on the November will also help you verify that you are properly ballot. And an eye-popping five new registered to vote (better check). Your vote women candidates (four Democrats, 1 Lib- has never mattered more! ertarian) won their primary elections for con- gressional seats and face incumbents in the Still No Funds to Test Backlog fall. of 15,160 Rape Kits A record number of women ran for the NC state legislature in the 2018 primaries. In According to available data, there were 2014, the last election year without a presi- 15,160 untested rape kits sitting on evidence dential election, 24 women ran for the state shelves in North Carolina in 2017 - among the legislature. This year 119 women ran for the most in the country. Until recently, many state House and Senate; only 43 were in- people believed that all rape kits were being cumbents. In November, 65 Democratic tested as evidence. women will be on the ballot. The Republi- Progress on testing the backlog is inex- can party does not track women candi- cusably slow. Legislation passed in 2017 ap- dates. propriated funds to do a statewide inventory Due to the unprecedented focus on of untested kits. The inventory bill was initi- women’s issues and women candidates, ated out of Fayetteville. the North Carolina NOW Political Action A new law passed this session requires the Committee (PAC) has been inundated with state crime lab to develop a tracking system requests for endorsements, and we have that would include all new rape kits and been interviewing candidates (women and those in the massive backlog. All medical men) at a frantic pace. providers, law enforcement agencies and Although North Carolina NOW is a non- forensic labs will be required to participate partisan organization, NOW at the state and and it must allow victims to access informa- national levels can endorse candidates tion about the status of their kits. Beginning in through our political action committees October 2019, the state lab must report to (PACs). Federal candidates are endorsed the legislature data on the number of track- by the national NOW PAC, which acts on ing-enabled kits and how many are con- recommendations from North Carolina nected to a reported sexual assault. NOW. Candidates for state offices are en- But funding for actual testing has been dorsed by the North Carolina NOW PAC. delayed until the tracking system is in place. NOW members will receive a mailing list- Attorney General ’s budget request ing candidates endorsed by a NOW PAC, for 2 million dollars to begin testing was re- and the information will also be available fused. The new system should prevent the online. Many candidates also list their en- destruction of untested kits. But without new dorsement in their campaign literature and funding, the backlog will continue to grow. NC NOW 2018 State Conference and Elections Women Rising up NOW Saturday, October 20, 2018 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. NC Advocates for Justice 1312 Annapolis Drive Raleigh NC

Registration—8:30-9:00 a.m. Keynote The conference registration fee includes lunch. Civil rights attorney Anita Earls will speak on “Women and the Right to Vote in North Carolina: Registration for non-NOW and NOW members is Use It or Lose It.” $40. You can join/rejoin NOW at the conference. Speakers/Workshops The conference will include discussions of new • Student registration is $10 (student ID required). threats to women and workshops on skills to em- power us to communicate effectively to legislators, • Registration for NOW members is a sliding scale and in the media. from $10-$40 ($10 covers the meal). Meal A lunch (including a vegetarian option) will be Please preregister using the form below or register served. If you have special dietary needs, on-line in Eventbrite through contact Lori Bunton at 919-302-8148. northcarolinanow.wordpress.com/conferences/ Special Needs/Directions Hotel, information, ad forms, and tabling forms are If you need directions or have any special needs, on the website. or questions about the conference, we are happy to work with you. Call Lori Bunton at 919-302-8148. You may also register on-site the day of the confer- Hotel ence, but lunch is guaranteed only for those who Comfort Inn & Suites Crabtree Valley, 6209 Glen- preregister or call requesting a lunch. wood Ave., Raleigh. Specify ‘NC NOW’ block and reserve by Sep. 28 to get special rate: $72 for king, If you miss the mailing deadline, call Roberta Wad- $82 for double. For reservations, call: 919-782-1112. dle at 910-624-5616.

2018 NC NOW Conference Preregistration Form Make checks payable to NC NOW and mail to: NC NOW State Conference, c/o Roberta Waddle, 3941 Gainey Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28306 Mail by October 11, 2018

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Check here if you are a member of North Carolina NOW North Carolina NOW Conference Registration fee $40 (sliding scale from $10 to $40 for NC NOW members only). Special student registration $10 Conference registration for non-NOW members $40 I can’t attend, but here’s my contribution to help with costs.

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