Kristen Pierce welcomes you to the new two-year commitment committee for endorsing AZ candidates and recommendations for National NOW endorsement. You can find more information about AZ, local and National endorsement here:
You can find more information about AZ, local and National endorsement here: AZ NOW Endorsement Webpage
Saturday, August 26th marks the passing of the 19th Amendment, granting the right to vote to select American women.
The progress of women's equality in Arizona is gaining attention, and efforts to increase the level of public awareness and garner bipartisan support to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment are not going away anytime soon. We will continue to fight for equality and encourage women to get out and vote.
Because... WHEN WOMEN VOTE, WOMEN WIN!
There are two very special events to commemorate this special day: one in Phoenix and one in Tucson!
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, North High School Auditorium, 1101 East Thomas Road, Phoenix
We are very excited to be celebrating this important day with women and men from all across Arizona. We invite you to help us honor the women who came before us, the women who are standing beside us, and the women who are preparing to lead us.
This year's program will focus on the importance of ratifying the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment), and the continued efforts to encourage women to run for office.
SPEAKERS:
Presenting:
Schedule:
General admission: $10 in advance, $15 day of the event (kids under 12 free). CASH ONLY. Donations are also accepted through Eventbrite ticketing.
For tabling and sponsorship opportunities, please contact: Anne Guerrant at 602-740-5622, anne@guerrantfoundation.org, or Dana Saylor at 602-740-0840, danasaylor@icloud.com
8 AM - 1 PM, YWCA Southern Arizona - Frances McClelland Community Center, 525 N. Bonita Ave., Tucson
Women's Equality Day: Courageous Conversations: This event raises diverse voices to discuss the status of feminism and how we can achieve equality and justice for ALL women. Event is free but tickets are required. Food trucks will be available for lunch. For more information and tickets, see the Eventbrite page.
Central Phoenix / Inez Casiano NOW chapter is screening the documentary EQUAL MEANS EQUAL TRAILER LINK
#EQUALMEANSEQUAL offers an unflinching look at how women are treated in the United States today. Examining both real-life stories and precedent-setting legal cases, director Kamala Lopez uncovers how outdated and discriminatory attitudes inform and influence seemingly disparate issues, from workplace harassment to domestic violence, rape and sexual assault to the foster care system, and the healthcare conglomerate to the judicial system. Along the way, she reveals the inadequacy of present laws that claim to protect women, ultimately presenting a compelling and persuasive argument for the urgency of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment.
EVENTBRIGHT
June 15, 2017 The Newton, Phoenix Arizona 5-9PM 300 W Camelback 85013
AZ State Senate, 5-1-17
We cheer and continue to support our allies in the AZ Senate. It is horrific these stands and statements are necessary in 2017. #AZNOW #InezCasianoNOW and other like minded organizations, are not only taking note of who has voted Nay, we are resolved in replacing their elected positions with pro ERA Senators in 2018.
Kathryn Mitchell, AZ NOW PAC Coordinator & Inez Casiano NOW Interim Treasurer
Today there was an opportunity to vote on bringing the ERA up for a Vote. We were not alone in showing support for the ERA.
***** To be clear, today's vote was about IF the ERA should be voted on.***** The Aye votes - 10, Nay votes - 15, Not Voting - 4, Vacant - 0. These results demonstrate there will be no vote on the ERA in the AZ Senate this session.
From Left to Right: Paula Cullison, Akanksha Mishra, Kathryn Mitchell, Rivko Knox, Dianne Post, Anne pyron, Rebecca McHood, Anissa Rasheta, and Meg Abhau.
Pictured above is Senate Minority Whip Quesada speaking in favor of voting on the ERA.
ACTION: Send your thank you's to the following Senator's for standing and speaking in support of the ERA: Minority Leadership Hobbs, Minority Leadership Assistant Farley, Minority Whip Quesada, Dalessandro and Mendez.
AZ Legislative Info to find or contact your legislator
We find it Ironic the birds have left their comments at the front door of the AZ Senate Building.
Anissa Rasheta, Mormons for ERA member
Rebecca McHood, ERA Coalition member
#SolidarityRepost #NOW Thanks Pat! Equal Rights Amendment is not “dead” or “irrelevant.” Have an afternoon tea or early cocktail party, watch the movie "Equal Means Equal" and tune into the panel discussion with our feminist heroes. Next Friday, April 21. Let’s never give up until we’re equal…all of us.
ERA Coalition
Dear friends,
We hope you will join us on April 21st for our first Campus Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Day. Campuses and individuals across the country will watch the documentary 'Equal Means Equal' on their campuses, in their dorms or at a private house party at 6 pm ET/ 5 pm CT/ 4 pm MT/ 3 pm PT. Individuals can rent or purchase the film through Amazon or iTunes.
Equal Means Equal Trailer Link Here
After the film, we invite you to tune in to a livestreamed panel discussion at 7:45 pm ET/ 6:45 pm CT/ 5:45 pm MT/ 4:45 pm PT on the Equal Rights Amendment, featuring Gloria Steinem, Patricia Arquette, Betty Dukes, Representative Carolyn Maloney and Carol Jenkins, and the opportunity to ask your questions in real time on Twitter. Tweet your questions directly to our panel with the hashtag #askERAday and the name of your state or school (Example: #HunterCollege or #NewYork).
The Eva Kastan Grove Fellows from Hunter College are organizing the event and invite everyone to participate. Click here to RSVP.
RSVP for Campus ERA Day on April 21st!
Sincerely,
Jessica Neuwirth
President
This article has been reposted with permission by Kathryn Mitchell, NOWPAC.az@gmail.com
The AZ State NOW website may contain advertisements for third parties or political ads. The advertisements on the AZ State NOW website should be labeled “advertisement” or “sponsored.” The AZ State NOW does not explicitly or implicitly endorse third parties in exchange for advertising and advertising does not influence content or actions.
AZ NOW Legislative ACTION ALERT 4-1-17
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The AZ State NOW website may contain advertisements for third parties or political ads. The advertisements on the AZ State NOW website should be labeled “advertisement” or “sponsored.” The AZ State NOW does not explicitly or implicitly endorse third parties in exchange for advertising and advertising does not influence content or actions.
WOW - is the #NOWaction! Share the news & thanks for all your activism! #AZNOW
| NUMBER | TITLE/CONTENT | STATUS/ACTION |
| HCR2002 | Repeal Prop 105, allowing legislature the right to repeal citizens initiative or referenda | OPPOSE Passed in House, not scheduled in Senate; Should be dead. |
| HCR 2007 | Allow legislature to repeal referenda | OPPOSE Passed in House, not scheduled in Senate. Should be dead. |
| HCR2013 | Constitutional convention for balanced budget – no, the last thing we need now is a constitutional convention run by the Alt Right to re-write the constitution, probably don’t need since have the one above | OPPOSE – Passed House, passed Senate committee 4-3; Contact Senate President Steve Yarbrough to encourage him NOT to schedule for floor. Contact your own Senator to vote against. |
| HCR2016 | Care enough to get in the way of bullying etc. | SUPPORT, PASSED House, No Senate action. Probably dead. |
| HB 2054 | Foreign Corporations register to donate to or participate in initiative process | SUPPORT - PASSED House, sent to Senate, passed Senate Judiciary on 3/16. Contact Senate President Steve Yarbrough to encourage him to schedule the bill for a floor vote. Contact your own Senator to vote for. |
| HB2091 | Repeal required fingerprinting for TANF, SNAP | SUPPORT - PASSED HOUSE, Passed Senate HHS on 3/15. Contact Senate President Steve Yarbrough to encourage him to schedule the bill for a floor vote. Contact your own Senator to vote for. |
| HB 2208 | Inhalers, administration – allows teachers and school personnel to assist a child with an inhaler | SUPPORT Senate passed and sent to Governor for signature on 3/23. Contact Ducey in favor. |
| HB2226 | Request Article V convention to balance budget, probably don’t need due to SCR2014 above | OPPOSE - PASSED House, Passed Senate appropriations, Contact Senate President Steve Yarbrough to encourage him NOT to schedule for a floor vote. Contact your own Senator to vote against. |
| HB2238 | Sex trafficking –WAS A STRIKE EVERYTHING – changed child prostitution to child sex trafficking, simply put sex trafficking in place of word prostitution, | SUPPORT – Passed Senate 29-0 as amended and transmitted back to the House on 3/23. The Senate amendment clarified that there still is a crime of child prostitution for which sex offenders and internet violators need to register. Needs conference committee by 4/14. |
| HB2268 | Must submit sexual assault evidence kits in 15 days, annual reporting on rape kits | Governor signed bill on 3/21. |
| HB2302 | Electoral College – shall vote for candidate with highest # of votes in state | PASSED HOUSE, passed Senate Judiciary, awaiting floor, MIXED OPINIONS |
| HB2320 | Ballot measures, put on disclosure about 105 | OPPOSE, Passed House, not heard in Senate; should be dead. |
| HB2290 | Provisional licenses, criminal convictions | SUPPORT, Passed House, Passed Senate Commerce and Public Safety 6-1-1, awaiting Rules and floor. Contact Senate President Steve Yarbrough to encourage him to schedule. Contact your own Senator to support. |
| HB2372 | Regarding food stamp eligibility and an additional 12 months of cash assistance– Democrats oppose harsh conditions and graduated sanctions to obtain benefits. To obtain the additional 12 months of benefits, recipients have to meet work and school requirements. | SUPPORT/READ to determine your own stand as there is dispute – Passed House, passed Senate HHS. Senate Appropriations hearing on 3/28, sign in with RTS or contact chair Debbie Lesko, dlesko@azleg.gov, 602 926 5413. |
| HB2403 | Clean elections, prohibited contributions – cannot pay a political party for any services | OPPOSE Passed House, no action in Senate, should be dead. |
| HB2404 | Strict compliance for initiatives – trying to diminish voter power, guarantee signatures, file a bond, punish organization for individual violation, criminal background check, can’t pay based on number of signatures | OPPOSE – Passed, Sent to Governor, Ducey who signed |
| HB2408 | Making wheelchair only parking spaces and decals | OPPOSE – Passed House, held in Senate Transportation and Technology committee. Should be dead. |
| HB2444 | Sexual assault, victim advocate, privilege | SUPPORT – Passed, Sent to Governor on 3/23. Contact Ducey to sign it. |
| HB2496 | Pay Day Loans – a striker bill to bring back exorbitant interest on small loans and suck money from the most poor and vulnerable. We keep telling them we do not want this in AZ but it’s a vampire bill that keeps coming back. | OPPOSE – Passed Senate appropriations 6-4 on 3/21. Contact Senate President Steve Yarbrough to encourage him NOT to schedule. Contact your own Senator and two representatives to oppose. |
| SB1009 | Theft of flag is crime- Kavanagh we already have a law prohibiting theft, we don’t need another one specially for the flag. It’s aimed at demonstrators. |
OPPOSE - Passed Senate, no action in House; should be dead. |
| SB1069 | Greatly reduced to simply say that if your sentence is set aside, you can answer “no” on the employment question regarding conviction | SUPPORT - Passed Senate, no action in House; Probably dead. |
| SB1071 | Can get provisional licenses for vocations with criminal convictions (HB2290) | SUPPORT Passed Senate, Passed House Military Veterans and Regulations, 9-0. Contact House Speaker, J.D. Mesnard to encourage him to schedule for floor. Contact your own two representatives to support. |
| SB1108 | Cash assistance to children allowed if living with unrelated adult and in DCS care | SUPPORT - Passed Senate, Passed Health and Rules in House, Contact House Speaker, J.D. Mesnard to encourage him to schedule for floor. Contact your own two representatives to support it. |
| SB1128 | Fetal death – (Lesko) not about abortion but if don’t make a category of exclusion for fetal death, the patient cannot be counted in survey | PASSED House 30-0. Passed House 55-0 |
| SB1158 | Borrelli, TF – ending court debts in 20 years, fine mitigation, non payment does not mean revocation, can mitigate if hardship, pays money to person not probation officer, community restitution, time spent on other crimes counts, can waive interest and it’s down from 10% to 4%, | SUPPORT - PASSED Senate, no hearings yet in House, probably dead. |
| SB1160 | Borrelli – TF – driving violation, restricted rather than suspended license, w/o glasses is misd, violation is civil not criminal, cop cannot take car unless driving on revoked not suspended license, and several other positive provisions. | SUPPORT, Passed in Senate, No hearings yet in House, probably dead. |
| SB1163 | Borrelli – TF – hearing bonds, release procedures, replace bail with bond, replace bail schedule except for misd, hearing if keep in, conditions of release | SUPPORT, Passed Senate, no hearings yet in House, probably dead. |
| SB1198 | Public accommodation, services, civil actions – Kavanagh, to allow businesses an extra 90 days to comply with Americans with Disabilities Law – they have already had 26 years. | OPPOSE – Passed Senate, FAILED in Judiciary on 3/22, should be dead but be careful of vampire bills. |
| SB1239 | Making it a parking violation to be on access aisles for disabilities – Kavanagh - pits one part of the disability community against another. | OPPOSE – Passed Senate, passed House, sent to governor on 3/23.Contact Ducey to veto it. |
| SB1253 | Cops can review the video tapes of a use of force incident before giving a statement – opposite of best practice | OPPOSE – Passed Senate, passed House Judiciary Held in Rules on 3/20. Should be dead but beware of vampire bills. |
| SB1254 | Charter schools can refuse to admit kids from a school under desegregation order. Charter schools should have the same responsibilities as public schools. Both parties voted for it. | OPPOSE – Passed Senate, passed House education and rules. Contact House Speaker, J.D. Mesnard to encourage him NOT to schedule. Contact your own two representatives to oppose. |
| SB1278 | Appropriation for felony pretrial intervention | SUPPORT – passed Senate, held in House Judiciary, passed House appropriations, Contact House Speaker, J.D. Mesnard to encourage him to schedule on floor. Contact your own two representatives to support. |
| SB1315 | DR – amended to add “substantial” to the evaluation of which parent gives the other access to children. It harms battered women and those protecting abused and molested children because they are not willing to give “substantial” time as they are protecting the child so they are punished often by losing custody all together to the abuser. | OPPOSE – passed Senate, no action in House. Should be dead. |
| SB1342 | Requiring search warrants for tracking devices and cell simulators (sting ray) | SUPPORT - Passed Senate, Passed House Judiciary committee & Rules; Contact House Speaker, J.D. Mesnard to encourage him to schedule it for the floor. Contact your own two representatives to support it. |
| SB1355 | Rights of sexual assault survivor, testing of DNA and match etc. | SUPPORT – passed Senate, no action in House. Probably dead. |
| SB1366 | Police officer victim is an aggravating factor – NO already have as a felony | OPPOSE – PASSED Senate, passed House Judiciary & rules. Contact House Speaker, J.D. Mesnard to encourage him NOT to schedule. Contact your own two representatives to oppose. |
| SB1367 | Reporting a life birth from an abortion or punish doctor unless s/he tries to keep fetus alive. This requires abortion clinics to have expensive equipment and file additional reports or a doctor could be criminally charged – attempt to make abortion more difficult. It also interferes with family decisions when fetus is not viable. Please see this video testimony from a mother who had to go through this trauma. We don’t need state legislators making these decisions for us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=529DocxlsT4&feature=share | OPPOSE – Passed Senate, Passed House Judiciary & Rules; Contact House Speaker, J.D. Mesnard to encourage him NOT to schedule. Contact your own two representatives to oppose it should it come to floor. |
| SB1406 | Establishes a juvenile justice reform committee study | SUPPORT - Passed Senate 30-0, Hearing in House Appropriations on 3/29. Sign in with RTS or contact chair Don Shooter, dshooter@azleg.gov, 602 926 4139 |
| SB1422 | Vacate conviction of sex trafficking victim including for ordinance, cannot use as prior conviction for future punishment | SUPPORT Passed Senate, Passed House 53-3. Sent to Ducey on 3/22. Contact Ducey to sign it. |
| SB1439 | No discrimination against health care agencies that REFUSE end of life care decisions by patients. Could interfere with advance directives. | OPPOSE – Passed Senate, passed House 32-24, Sent to Ducey on 3/22. Contact Ducey to veto it. |
Below are upcoming deadlines. Things will speed up as they approach the end of the session. It is important to act right away or the time is gone.
4/14/17 Last day for conference committee
4/18/17 100th Day of the Session
4/29/17 Session can only be extended by House or Senate vote.
Thank you Dianne Post for bringing us timely reports on what's going on in AZ Legislature!
If you are on Request To Speek (RTS), please log in and at least click support or oppose for the measures. You don't have to leave a comment if you don't want to.
RTS website address: https://apps.azleg.gov/
If you are not on the RTS system, send an email to the committee chair with
1) the Subject: the number of the bill and
2) the word oppose or support depending on which it is.
3) You can write comments in the body of the email but it is not required.
"If you are a constituent of that person, say so." Dianne Post. For example, "I live in district #. I'm a member of your community and a voting constituent."
2017 Legislation List 1/27/17
NUMBER
TITLE/CONTENT
STATUS/ACTION
HCR 2006
Constitutional Convention
OPPOSE - House Federalism, Property rights and Public Policy on 1/31, the last thing we need is a constitutional convention with the Alt Right writing the new constitution!
HCR 2010
Constitutional Convention
OPPOSE - House Federalism, Property rights and Public Policy on 1/31, the last thing we need is a constitutional convention with the Alt Right writing the new constitution!
HB2238
Sex trafficking – makes many changes to different laws changing “child prostitution” to “sex trafficking” to fit with federal and international aw, recommended 6 years ago! Took out “intent” requirement as required, defines same as federal definition, Farnsworth
SUPPORT Judiciary & Public Safety Committee, hearing on 2/1 - finally puts the responsibility where it belongs on the adult abuser not on the child victim.
HB2302
Electoral College – shall vote for candidate with highest # of votes in state
READ - House Federalism, property rights and public policy, 1/31/2017. It depends on what you think about the Electoral College role.
SB1174
Desegregation money – force schools to do override naming it desegregation money and if don’t pass, then reduce money by 15% for 5 years. Also limits override in amount and years (7).
OPPOSE - Appropriations on 1/31/2017 – this is one of the annual attempts to cut off the desegregation money to schools.
SB1239
Cannot park in the cross hatched area of a disability parking even if you have a sticker i.e. a way to punish them, Kavanagh
READ: transportation and technology, hearing on 1/31/17.
Dispute in thinking on this whether it’s to harm the disability community because of the law suits against business or to help them. Considering Kavanagh introduced the bill prohibiting complaints for 60 or 90 days, I think it’s to stick them in the eye, but I could be wrong.
SB1279
Special sentence, unlawful presence, - Increases sentencing time with presumptive and no way out with parole, probation, community or commutation, if person was undocumented
OPPOSE - Hearing in Commerce and Public Safety on 1/30, is added penalty and never get out for person who is undocumented. Increases needs for prison beds.
Additional Bills coming up week of January 30, 2017.
Sorry for this coming so late. These updates were not available until Sunday. I can only assume that the staff is as crazy busy as I am trying to keep up. But these bills are coming up this week so please respond on the RTS system, with an email or a phone call if you can. To save my own time, I have lumped them together for all the groups I am monitoring for, so if it’s not your issue, just skip it. Thank you for all you do.
Free Marissa Now Statement on Marissa Alexander's Freedom:January 27, 2017
#AZNOW Reposted 1-27-17
Today, after 3 years behind bars and 2 years of house detention, Marissa Alexander was finally released from state confinement. Marissa Alexander has been punished for over 5 years for defending her life from a domestic violence attack threatening her life nine days after she gave birth. The Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign is thrilled that we have finally made it to the day that we can say Marissa Alexander has her freedom.
We are honored to share this statement from Marissa and her family: "We are grateful to God that this chapter of Marissa's life will come to a close on January 27, 2017. We are sincerely thankful and appreciative to all who rallied, supported and prayed for Marissa's release. As she enters a new chapter, with endless possibilities, we ask that you will continue to support Marissa through her non-profit organization that was established to end domestic violence and injustice in the criminal justice system, The Marissa Alexander Justice Project. Without you, today would not be possible. Thank you again and again."
Throughout her ordeal, Marissa Alexander has always emphasized the need to use her case to bring attention to the wider institutional patterns of criminalizing survivors. We celebrate her freedom today as a closure to a #SurvivedAndPunished week of action highlighting survivors of domestic and sexual violence who are criminalized, including Bresha Meadows in Ohio, Tondalao Hall in Oklahoma, Rasmea Odeh in Illinois, Kelly Savage in California, Alisha Walker in Illinois, Ky Peterson in Georgia, and Ny Nourn in California. These cases have very different contexts, but they are related in that they exemplify the reasons and ways survivors of violence are targeted by prosecutors. They are not alone. The vast majority of people in women’s prisons, and many in men’s prisons, are survivors of domestic and sexual violence before they are incarcerated. There is a crucial pipeline between abuse and prison/detention centers that must be disrupted.
The grassroots insurgency that freed Marissa Alexander was historic. It emerged in 2012, when Marissa was denied Stand Your Ground defense at the same time a jury used Stand Your Ground as a reason to acquit George Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon Martin. Marissa’s story, and therefore the connection between domestic violence and state violence, has always been part of the beginning of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. With the recent stunning defunding of VAWA funding for services and the massive build-up of criminalizing institutions, the Trump Administration has made it clear that it promotes both a pro-rape/domestic violence and a pro-criminalization politics. The connection between the political issues made so vivid by Marissa’s case is more powerful than ever. We must build coalitions and be relentless in our defense of survivors and their communities.
Since 2012, thousands of people all over the world REFUSED to accept the prosecution and punishment of Marissa Alexander. You wrote to prosecutor Angela Corey & Florida Governor Rick Scott urging them to drop the case, you fundraised over $100,000 to support Marissa’s legal defense fund, you organized community workshops & gatherings to spread the word, you engaged in direct actions in the streets and in front of courthouses, you wrote to Marissa to let her know she was not alone, you produced amazing works of art that spoke to the call for her freedom, you submitted organizational endorsements for her freedom, you sent heartfelt prayers, and you repeatedly boosted all forms of media to make sure your voices were heard. And our voices WERE HEARD. We believe that Angela Corey (now voted out) felt the pressure to offer Marissa another plea deal because you would not let up. We know that Marissa’s pro bono legal team got as far as they did because of the grassroots funds that supported their work. We saw Florida’s state congress pass reform legislation in response to Marissa’s case. And we saw an increase in defense campaigns for survivors all over the country. In short, Marissa Alexander was freed by your efforts of love and resistance that continue to make a difference. We at Free Marissa Now are overcome with gratitude.
To honor this important activism, we ask all people who did an action to help free Marissa Alexander to PLEASE FILL OUT THIS SURVEY so that organizers and survivors can learn and build from it in future movement building.
It’s impossible to name all of the individuals and organizations that were so key in the campaign to free Marissa. But we do want to send special shout outs to the whole Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign (consisting of reps from African American/Black Women’s Cultural Alliance, New Jim Crow-Jacksonville, Radical Women, and INCITE!), the Chicago Alliance to Free Marissa Alexander (now Love & Protect), SisterSong, all of the revolutionary groups in the Southern Movement Assembly, Black Women’s Blueprint, NAACP, New Voices of Pittsburgh, Methodist Church of South Carolina, Free Marissa East Bay, Pacific Alliance to Free Marissa Alexander, Sistahs Talkin Back, Church of the Advocate, and many, many, MANY others!
We also want to send love to our comrades at Survived & Punished: Stand With Nan-Hui, California Coalition for Women Prisoners, and Love & Protect. With them and our growing team, we will continue to organize for the end of gender violence and criminalization.
Finally, we’re excited to announce Marissa Alexander’s new project: The Marissa Alexander Justice Project! Marissa is an amazing leader and we look forward to building in solidarity with her.
Thank you very, very much for your love & solidarity. There are so many more survivors to free and so much more work to do. Let’s keep going!
This article has been reposted with permission to Dianne Post. Kathryn Mitchell, NOWPAC.az@gmail.com
The AZ State NOW website may contain advertisements for third parties or political ads. The advertisements on the AZ State NOW website should be labeled “advertisement” or “sponsored.” The AZ State NOW does not explicitly or implicitly endorse third parties in exchange for advertising and advertising does not influence content or actions.
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