We know from the polling that the younger the people polled, the more likely they are to agree with women s rights issues of all kinds, in particular on reproductive freedom. We also know that those young activists are the least likely to vote. And so, part of it has to be getting involved in traditional political ways like electing people to office once you get to the age to vote. And certainly from NOW s perspective it is very critical and very effective to be in the streets. And so on April 22nd, we ll have the kickoff of what will be a long-term campaign to say we aren t going to get pushed backwards on reproductive rights or any other part of our progress.
Grassroots action is the only way that change comes.
It s the only way that progress is made. We didn t win the right to vote, we didn t end slavery in this country because we had a few good men in Congress or in the White House or on the courts but because we had strong movements that demanded change. There are a lot of young people, men and women, who don t use the term feminist to describe themselves, but if you go down the list of issues, they are in agreement with the issues. The best way to do organizing among young people is with young people. The connections have to be made among peers.