WORD (Women Organized to Resist & Defend)

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. We will defend the gains of the women’s movement and we will push for greater justice for all women. We will fight for social programs that poor women and families depend on, we will fight for economic equality, and for an end to sexist discrimination. Visit our website www.defendwomensrights.org to get involved!

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Liberation Radio: Congress takes aim at abortion rights

WORD (Women Organized to Resist and Defend) activist Danielle Norwood examines the new attack against reproductive rights spearheaded by Republicans in Congress seeking to criminalize abortion after 20 weeks.

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Liberation Radio: Free Marissa Alexander now!

Civil rights attorney and organizer Heather Benno looks at the case of Marissa Alexander, and why she remains behind bars despite being granted a new trial.

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Get the facts and call out CPCs!

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Right-wing groups from outside of New Mexico that are part of a campaign to undo women’s rights nationwide have successfully petitioned to place a measure on the ballot for a special election taking place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Nov. 19, 2013, that would ban abortions after 20 weeks.

This ballot measure is NOT about banning abortions at 20 weeks – it is about taking the first steps in banning ALL abortions, not just in Albuquerque, but nationwide.

See more photos submitted from across the U.S. in solidarity with Albuquerque & get involved!

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Sign the petition: No WIC shutdown! Nationwide emergency funding now!

We are circulating a petition that demands that the federal government provide funding for these programs during the shutdown because no one'€™s life should be on the line in the name of political posturing. Demand emergency funding for WIC now!

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Sisters and brothers, I was devastated. Every Black mother, every woman across this country was devastated yesterday. We were sad. How could we look at our children and tell them that this is a system that does not value their lives? But the question is: What are you gonna do about it?

Powerful speech by WORD organizer Peta Lindsay demanding justice for Trayvon Martin in San Francisco, July 14.

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Full access to reproductive healthcare now!

Sign the petition: Demand full access to reproductive healthcare for all!

From Texas and North Carolina to New York and California, women across the United States demand reproductive healthcare without restrictions! Sign & share the petition to show your support.

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Call to Action: Stand with Texas Women!

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WORD [Women Organized to Resist and Defend] is calling on all those who can to join the protest in Austin, and for those who can’€™t to organize and join solidarity actions across the country.

Today there will be protests all across the country in solidarity with the women of Texas who are fighting to defend their right to safe, legal abortion! Texas women will be gathering at the state capitol in Austin today- let’s stand in solidarity with our sisters and show the world that they do not march alone! There will be actions in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, New Haven and more! Find an action near you!

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Featured speakers: *    Suyapa Portillo: Professor of Chican@ Latin@ Transnational Studies at Pitzer College; Organizer for the Honduras and Latin American Solidarity Movement *    Bamby Salcedo: President, TransLatin@ Coalition *    Juana Rosa Cavero: Director, Reproductive Justice Coalition of Los Angeles *    Genevieve Huizar: United Survivors of Anaheim, mother of Manuel Diaz who was murdered by the Anaheim police *    Autumn Thomas-Morales: Organizer, Word Sacramento *    Jollene Levid: National Chairperson, Af3irm (Association of Filipinas, Feminists Fighting Imperialism) *    Gloria La Riva: President, Typographical Sector CWA Local 3952 *    Carla Osorio: Boyle Heights Project Coordinator, East Los Angeles Women’s Center *    Cheryl Zarate: Chair, Kabataang maka-Bayan (KmB) ...and many others!

$10 donation requested. No one turned away for lack of funds. Lunch and childcare will be provided.

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Rachel Jeantel had the courage to testify and take a stand against the racist murder of her friend, Trayvon Martin. Now she's being attacked and vilified by the court and the racist media. WORD stands with Rachel Jeantel - Justice for Trayvon!

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ALL OUT July 1 for round 2 - kill the bill!

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With over 120,000 people watching on livestream, the crowd erupted in the Texas capitol. The right wing politicians banged their gavels and called for order -- but they must have forgotten that where there is no justice, there can be no peace. The women in the capitol knew that all eyes were on them, that at that moment no elected official could save them and they had to act up to save themselves. So they cheered, they chanted, they booed and they disrupted that legislative session long enough to keep the vote from happening before midnight. Riot police were called to clear out the capitol, but the women would not go. They filled the rotunda. They refused to play by the rules of a system that would keep them oppressed. Their militancy and determination brought us a historic victory for all women. Republicans argued that despite the disruption, the bill was passed at 12:01, but it was declared invalid. Hundreds of thousands of people had witnessed what happened. The right-wing politicians couldn’t violate their own rules because the people would hold them accountable. History proves again and again: when the people fight back, the people win. There is a long tradition of disrupting hearings on women’s issues throughout the feminist movement. Our foremothers were once considered an “unruly mob.” That is precisely the kind of struggle that won us these rights to begin with.

Texas filibuster victory made possible by woman power

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The end of Prop 8 and DOMA are huge victories won by years of struggle. We'll keep fighting until we reach full equality for all people!

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Our rights were won through struggle and that's how we'll defend them. Texas women showed the world last night: when we fight back, WOMEN WIN. Stand with women across the United States who are fighting to defend our rights! http://www.defendwomensrights.org/signup.html

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WORD joins LGBT Pride Parades across the country

We demand: "Equality for women! Equality for LGBT people! Equality for all!"

Join WORD and community members as we march for full equality in LGBT Pride parades across the country. We will demand full federal equality in every sphere of society.

Pride has its origins in the militant and fighting LGBT movement of the 1960s and 1970s, as thousands of LGBT people poured into the streets demanding their rights. We will continue that struggle as WORD joins Pride across the country.

Now is the time for us to continue the struggle for full equality for all, by taking to the streets together in a united movement. March with WORD and demand "Equality for women, equality for LGBT people, equality for ALL!" Find cities where WORD will be participating in more Pride celebrations - we encourage all our supporters to join us!

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Equality for women, equality for ALL! WORD contingent at the LA Pride parade, 6/9/13.

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WORD, National Women's Liberation and others took action across the country May 14-19 to demand access to emergency contraception without restrictions or ID requirements and at an affordable cost. Watch and share the short video from these exciting actions now! Read more about the week of action here and check out more video from our sisters at NWL.