Illinois National Organization for Women

Illinois National Organization for Women We are the grassroots arm of the women’s movement. The National Organization for Women is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States.

Illinois NOW is a collective of chapters from all over the state taking action on six core issues: Constitutional Equality, Reproductive Rights & Justice, Racial Justice, LGBTQIA+ Rights, Economic Justice, and Ending Violence Against Women. NOW is dedicated to making legal, political, social, and economic change in our society in order to achieve our goal, which is to eliminate sexism and end all

oppression. NOW has hundreds of thousands of contributing members and more than 500 local and campus affiliates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since our founding in 1966, NOW’s goal has been “to take action” to bring about equality for all women. Both the actions NOW takes and its position on the issues are principled, uncompromisingf, and often ahead of their time. NOW is a leader, not a follower, of public opinion. NOW's 6 core issues:
- Reproductive Rights & Justice
- Ending Violence Against Women
- Economic Justice
- LGBT Rights
- Racial Justice
- Constitutional Equality Amendment

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NOW activists use both traditional and non-traditional means to push for social change. NOW activists do extensive electoral and lobbying work and bring lawsuits. We also organize mass marches, rallies, pickets, non-violent civil disobedience and immediate, responsive “zap” actions. In 2004, the March for Women’s Lives became the largest mass action of any kind in U.S. history, bringing a record 1.15 million people to Washington, DC to advocate for women’s reproductive health options. NOW’s actions have established the organization as a major force in the sweeping changes that put more women in political posts; increased educational, employment and business opportunities for women; and enacted tougher laws against violence, harassment and discrimination. NOW is a multi-issue, multi-strategy organization that takes a holistic approach to women’s rights.

09/03/2026

Women’s health care should never be criminalized.

09/03/2026

Gloria Steinem was a tenacious feminist warrior whose voice helped transform the women’s rights movement and whose commitment to equality
inspired generations. She helped give millions of women the power, courage, and conviction to challenge discrimination and demand equality. She understood, too, that lasting change is built collectively. “The future depends entirely on what each of us does every day; a movement is only people moving.”

Gloria inspired women everywhere and became a hero to generations of feminists. Her words, her journalism, and her activism helped change
the course of American history. The movement she helped build lives on—in the millions who continue the fight for equality and in the generations who will carry it forward. Kim Villanueva, National NOW President

https://now.org/media-center/press-release/our-hero/

09/03/2026

Thank you, Gloria, for showing the world what it means to speak up for women’s equality. Thank you for fighting for our rights so that every woman and every person can live with dignity, freedom, and equality.

09/03/2026

Gloria Steinem, the indefatigable feminist and journalist whose activism revolutionized the personal and professional lives of women, has died. She was 92.

Steinem “passed away peacefully at her home in New York City, surrounded by some of the many who loved her,” a post on her official Instagram page said Thursday. It added that she had died on Wednesday.

“Gloria’s near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end,” the post said. It did not say how she died.

A pioneer of the 1960s’ era of second-wave feminism, Steinem dedicated her life to causes ranging from reproductive freedom and domestic violence prevention to workplace gender inequalities.

Read more: nbcnews.to/4gyMHnN

09/01/2026
09/01/2026

R**e myths are false beliefs that minimize sexual violence. These myths do real harm by forcing survivors into silence and shame. Believing survivors and challenging these harmful narratives is essential to holding abusers accountable and creating a safer community.

24/7 Crisis Hotline: 217-753-8081

Take action!
08/31/2026

Take action!

Keshia Golden is a Black mother in Chicago, IL, who faced an impossible situation that survivors of domestic violence know all too well.⁠
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Golden had called the police more than 50 times to report domestic abuse by her partner, Calvin Sidney. Police arrested Sidney but never charged him with a crime, and the abuse continued for months. Then, in October 2022, while Golden was 8 months pregnant, Sidney attacked her again. Golden fought back in self-defense, stabbing him in the leg. He later died at the hospital.

This time, police acted quickly — not to protect Golden, but to charge her with first-degree murder. She was facing 20 years or more in prison if convicted.⁠
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Golden just accepted a plea deal for involuntary manslaughter to avoid prison time and raise her daughter. But she should have NEVER been charged with murder in the first place.⁠
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has the power to act. Join us in calling on him to PARDON Keshia Golden immediately. Survivors should be protected, not prosecuted.⁠
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Sign the petition to pardon Keshia Golden >>> https://bit.ly/PardonKeshiaGolden

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Box 474
Springfield, IL
62705

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