New TV Ad: UltraViolet, MoveOn.org Slam House Republicans on VAWA Roll-Backs

As the House prepares to vote on the Republican version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which protects some women but excludes others, UltraViolet and MoveOn.org announce a new ad campaign today slamming the bill’s failure to protect all women and urging the House to pass the bi-partisan Senate version of the bill.

The two organizations are spending five-figures to air the ad on DC cable channels including Bravo, MSNBC, and Lifetime. View the ad here: http://bit.ly/vawanow

The joint campaign hits House Republicans for attempting to roll back protections for people in the LGBT community, immigrants, and Native Americans.

Ultraviolet also launched a new petition calling for immediate action here: http://bit.ly/PASSVAWA

“It is absolutely appalling that House Republicans are still boldly and proudly telling the American public that some people in our country do not deserve protection from abuse,” said Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of Ultraviolet. “If they were serious about protecting women they would immediately pass the Senate bill. Instead they have, once again, decided to play politics with the health and well being of millions of women and men. The House bill is nothing more than a poison pill to once again block the Violence Against Women Act from being signed into law.”

“All women deserve to be protected regardless of who they love or where they live,” said Anna Galland, Executive Director of MoveOn. “It is shameful that House Republicans are advancing a bill that leaves many women still vulnerable to violence. Protecting women should be a non-partisan issue. It is far past time House Republicans got this message and passed the bi-partisan Senate version of this bill.”

Today’s ad comes on the heels of months of campaigning by both MoveOn.org and UltraViolet to get Congress to pass VAWA. Both groups plan to escalate their work until a final bill is passed.

In addition to the ad, Ultraviolet members are flooding Congress with calls this week urging House members to pass the Senate version of the bill.

Last week, an Ohio MoveOn member and rape survivor named Sheila Thomas delivered petitions to Speaker Boehner’s office demanding that the House GOP stop blocking protections for women. Sheila’s petition garnered nearly 220,000 signatures. It can be viewed here: http://signon.org/sign/congress-must-extend

The ad script:
“Three women die every day from domestic violence. That's why the Violence Against Women Act was passed, helping decrease domestic violence by 67%. But this week House Republicans want to pass a Violence Against Women Act that discriminates against some women.Tell Congress all women deserve protection. Call your Representative and tell them to pass the expanded Violence Against Women Act. Women are watching.”