August 26th Day of Action – Women’s Equality Day

WORD (Women Organized to Resist and Defend) is a new grassroots, feminist organization that is dedicated to building the struggle for women’s rights and equality for all.

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We demand:

Full reproductive rights now: Access to safe, legal abortion and birth control – on demand. We want healthcare that covers these services and access to it for all women. We want the information that we need to stay healthy, including an end to abstinence-only sex education in our schools.
Defend women in the workplace: Close the wage gap and provide equal pay for equal work. All jobs must offer maternity leave and stop penalizing working mothers. End sexual harassment at work.
Stop the budget cuts: Cutting federal and state social services punishes poor women. We demand government funding for social services that millions of working and poor women depend on. Jobs, education, housing and healthcare are women’s rights.
We want full equality and respect now: Fight racism, sexism and anti-LGBT bigotry. Stop the exploitation and commercialization of women in mass media. An injury to one is an injury to all!

On Women’s Equality Day, August 26 – on the eve of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, which will be immediately followed by the Democratic National Convention - women and their allies will take to the streets of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Chicago and other cities across the country in defense of women's rights.

August 26th - Women’s Equality Day - commemorates the 1920 passage of the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote. Winning the right to vote was an important victory, but the struggle for full equality continues. Celebrate Women’s Equality Day by taking to the streets and demanding full equality now. Honor the women who fought for the rights we’ve won and continue the struggle for full equality.

Women’s reproductive rights continue to be slashed at the state level. Legal restrictions on abortions tripled from 2010 to 2011. 92 new abortion restrictions were enacted in 2011. In 2011, there were 114 reported violent attacks against abortion providers. Clinics that provide vital services for millions of working-class women are under siege. More than 55 percent of reproductive age women now live in states that are “hostile” to abortion rights. (Guttenmacher Institute)

So while they’re convening and concocting new ways to attack our rights and our lives, let’s come together in the streets to stand up and fight back!

There will be mass demonstrations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities around the country. We will mobilize thousands in the streets to show the world that there is a new women’s movement rising and we will not go back.

We believe that access to reproductive choice – the basic right of women to control our own bodies – is a fundamental right and must be defended. We believe in equality. We support working women. We are tired of the right wing trying to turn back the clock and take our hard-won rights away. All people who support equality and choice should organize with us and help these actions grow.

If you can’t make it to protest in Tampa and Charlotte, join or organize a protest in your community. There is a long, proud tradition of women in the United States mobilizing and fighting to win equality and respect. Let’s continue this legacy this summer!

August 26 Actions for Women's Rights

If there's an Aug. 26 event taking place in your area, please let us know about it so it can be listed on our website.

Chicago, IL

Daley Plaza, 11 am

Denver, OC

16th Street Mall, (meet at 16th St and California), 11 am
Die-in to raise awareness women who have died as a result of inequalities.
Organized by We are Women Colorado

Lexington, KY

Robert F Stevens Courthouse, E. Main st, 3 pm
Organized by Kentuckians Against the War on Women

Los Angeles, CA

Hollywood & Vine, 1pm

Milwaukee, WI

Pere Marquette Park, 12pm
Organized by Code Pink and Vets for Peace

New Paltz, NY

Peace Park (next to Village Hall @ 25 Plattekill Ave.), 1pm
New York, NY
47th St & 6th Ave, 1pm

San Francisco, CA

24th & Mission, 12 noon

If there's an Aug. 26 event taking place in your area, please let us know about it so it can be listed on our website.

Get involved:

Call to Action initiated by WORD (Women Organized to Resist and Defend) is a new grassroots, feminist organization that is dedicated to building the struggle for women’s rights and equality for all.