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"Equality ... means nothing more than the opportunity to live to one's
potential." -- Sherrye Henry
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1966 |
The National Organization
for Women is incorporated. |
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1970 |
The first Rochester chapter of NOW is formed.
Rochester NOW chapters supported enforcement
of landmark litigation in the 1970s by assisting their members who
were suing to enforce the employment anti-sex discrimination clauses
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Funds were raised for a possible
appeal of the too narrow decision that eventually forced a settlement
by the offending employer. |
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1974 |
NOW court decision puts an end to sex segregated
help wanted ads in Gannett newspapers.
"With Women" a community radio show begins and
airs for five years. |
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1977 |
NOW is instrumental in establishing
Alternatives for Battered Women. |
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1978 |
Two local chapters merge to form the Greater
Rochester Chapter of NOW. |
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1988 |
Rochester NOW lobbies Monroe County to conduct a formal
study of sex/race discrimination in Monroe County employment
practices.
The chapter publishes the first edition of the Rochester
Area Women's Business and Service Directory. |
|
1989 |
Five bus loads of local
activists participate in NOW's March for Women's Equality - Women's
Lives in Washington, D.C. Rochester NOW returns to Washington,
D.C. in November to Mobilize for Women's Lives. Rochester NOW
speaks out against the killing of more than a dozen women in
Rochester. WAVE - Women Against a
Violent Environment - is founded. |
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1990 |
Protests are held against
right-wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh's address to local
Conservative Party. |
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1991 |
Rochester NOW leads the
local protest against confirmation of Clarence Thomas. "I believe
Anita Hills" signs spring up. |
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1992 |
300 Rochester NOW pro-choice
supporters join the abortion rights rally in Washington, D.C.
Members of Rochester NOW drive to Buffalo for seven days to defend
clinics during Operation Rescue's 'Spring of Life.' The clinics stay
open and no women are turned away.
NOW President Patricia Ireland speaks at an Elect Women NOW rally
in Rochester. |
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1993 |
Rochester NOW members travel
to Washington, D.C. for the Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual March on
Washington.
WAVE surveys local women about violence. |
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1994 |
Rochester hosts the NOW New
York State Annual Conference. |
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1995 |
Buses take Rochester
activists to Washington, D.C. for NOW's Rally for Women's Lives, a
national speak-out against violence.
WAVE speaks out against the
opening of a local Hooters restaurant and publishes a Weather Map for
Women -- identifying establishments which profit from the exploitation
of women's bodies.
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1996 |
WAVE protests anti-woman,
anti-gay local cable show. Area businesses pull their ads due to
protests. |
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1997 |
Rochester NOW President
Jackie Ashton takes part in a peaceful protest of Native Americans
which violently is interrupted by New York State Police.
WAVE files
amicus brief to keep local cable show off the air stating that the
show's language creates a reasonable risk of violence against women
and children. Judge rules that local cable company can reject
"offensive" shows. |
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1998 |
Rochester NOW member Sylvia
Smith receives Woman of Courage Award at NOW's Women of Color and
Their Allies Summit in Washington, D.C.
Rochester hosts the national
NOW conference during the 150th anniversary of the first Declaration
of Sentiments.
NOW writes a
Declaration of Sentiments for 1998. A candlelight vigil is held
to mourn the loss of Dr. Barnett Slepian who was murdered in his home
in Buffalo. |
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1999 |
Operation Save America
targets Rochester doctors who perform abortions as well as clinics,
schools and gay establishments. Rochester NOW organizes clinic defense
training.
Karen Winner, national authority on divorce, comes to
Rochester NOW to speak to over 100 people. Family Justice Task Force
is formed.
Our Reproductive Rights Task Force Chair organizes escorts for
women seeing Dr. Morris Wortman on Saturdays - a day anti-abortion
protesters are present. |
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2000 |
Rochester NOW sends flowers
to the doctors and staff who provide abortions to say "thanks."
Several Rochester NOW members work to elect Hillary Clinton to the U.S.
Senate. PAC endorsed Marilyn Hoffman O'Connor is elected Family Court
Judge. |
|
2001 |
A Tale of Two Pills was
the topic of Rochester NOW's panel discussion commemorating the 28th
anniversary of the passage of Roe v. Wade. Local political and medical
experts discuss RU 486 and Emergency Contraception. Thanks to an
anonymous donor, Rochester NOW places a pro-choice ad at the Rochester
airport for 7 months. See picture of the ad. |
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2002 |
Anti-abortion protestors
stepped up their anti-woman messages at Dr. Wortman's office.
See pictures. Rochester NOW's Reproductive
Rights Taskforce continued to organize escorts.
Promise Keepers held a two-day conference in Rochester. NOW members
protested its sexist, racist and homophobic agenda.
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2003 |
Over 250 people attend an
event celebrating the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
Click
here for more details. A record $1,400 was raised for the
PAC at our annual white elephant auction and picnic. The September
dinner was a big success. Over 60 people attended. |
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2004 |
Over 800 people from the Rochester area attend the
March for Women's Lives in Washington, D.C. April 25.
Rochester NOW works with Planned Parenthood and other
local organizations to provide buses and planes to the
march. |
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2005 |
October 19: The Rochester NOW PAC endorses
Rochester NOW member Tim Mains for Rochester mayor. |
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2006 |
January 9 - 13: Rochester NOW President Alberta
Roesser lobbies senators in Washington, DC to block the
confirmation of Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court.
January 17: Over 150 people attend Rochester NOW's Roe
v. Wade 30th Anniversary event. Dr. Susan Wood, formerly the highest ranking woman at the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), was the featured speaker.
Dr. Wood resigned from the FDA over the Commissioner's decision to
delay approving over-the-counter status for emergency contraception
(EC). |
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