Recent Events

Thanks for Helping Us Fight Alito, We Gave it Our All

Brevard NOW would like thank you all for helping us light up Sen. Nelson’s phones from Orlando to DC. We also want to offer special appreciation to everyone who attended our virulent rallies, including the 13 folks who showed up to the last demonstration which was thrown together in just 48 hours.

While we lost the fight in the end there is a silver lining we cannot ignore. Every time we stand up for our Constitutional principles, of privacy and choice, of fairness and equality, of justice, we embolden others to join us. And they do. During our effort Brevard NOW saw a handful of new faces, people who hadn’t been plugged into the fight; Each time we made the news, channel 9, 13 and 2, we reached out from Brevard to Orlando to let women and men everywhere know that they should be Proud to be Pro-Choice, proud to be feminists, proud to stand for Constitutional values and justice. I think we are winning this war. I say that because we are becoming more engaged. And if the right has taught us anything, it’s that you have to become engaged…and you have to keep at it.

Lastly I want to offer appreciation to Robbin and Michele who both did great at representing us all in a total of three interviews with the media regarding Alito over the last few weeks. I think it’s fair to say that Brevard NOW put a damn good fight. At the end of the day, if we walk away with nothing else, at least we can say, we fought it to the end. Thanks from all of us.

--Jeff

State of the Union/State of Emergency Antiwar Demonstration and Candle Light Vigil

On January 31st at 5pm our coalition of approximately 50 Brevard citizens assembled at the "Peace Corner" in Melbourne in an emergency action to protest the war in Iraq. The demonstration was held two hours prior to the Presidents State of The Union Address and was one of thousands held across the Nation demanding the President address the mounting cost of the war and to ask "HOW MANY MORE"? With only a few days notice, Brevard residents responded in force. Members of Brevard NOW, Patriots For Peace, The Young Democrats, Palm Bay's Democratic Women's Club, MoveOn, Veterans and individual Brevard citizens against the war in Iraq participated.

The overwhelming response from passing motorists was a positive one, now that public opinion has shifted in our favor.

We were delighted when Dr. Bob Bowman, hopeful Democratic Candidate for Congress, District 15 and his wife Maggie arrived and participated in our emergency action.

A Florida Today reporter spent approximately one hour interviewing and photographing participants.

Please see page 8A on 2/1 for coverage. We are mentioned in the last paragraph of the article titled "Capitol Police Arrest Sheehan, Antiwar Protesters Take To Streets". There is also a nice picture of Nancy Joseph.

We concluded with a Candle Light Vigil for The Fallen and the playing of Taps. Participating Veterans were recognized and thanked for their Military Service.

The Antiwar/Peace Vigils will resume every Friday evening beginning at 5pm Feb.10th through March 10th at the same location.

Out of Iraq NOW/Three Years Too Many Antiwar and Peace March though the streets of downtown Melbourne to City Hall, March 18th, 12n-3pm to coincide with the third anniversary of the Iraq War.

Thank you to all participants and volunteers who made this event such a success.

Vicki I.

Proud to Be Pro-Choice II/ Save Roe, Oppose Alito

On January 22nd, Brevard NOW successfully celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision in our second annual “Proud to Be Pro-Choice“ sign waiving event. We also took the opportunity to call on Senator Nelson to oppose and filibuster judge Alito.

Between 15 and 20 people, ages 2 to 60+, showed up to waive signs such as: Keep Abortion Legal, Alito: In Your Bedroom?, Stop Bush’s Choice Before He Stops Yours, Never Going Back, Stop The War On Women, Save Roe: Oppose Alito, The Only Bush I Trust Is My Own, Bush: Worst President Ever, Happy B-Day Roe, Roe saves Lives, and more.

Channel 13 news stopped by and interviewed our secretary Robbin. She did a great job of articulating our purpose and opposition to Alito.