The National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded in 1966 by Betty Friedan, Pauli Murray, and others to serve as an advocacy organization for women’s rights and equality. It is now the largest feminist organization in the U.S., with 500,000 contributing members and 550 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. NOW works to eliminate discrimination and harassment in the workplace, schools, the justice system, and all other sectors of society; secure abortion, birth control and reproductive rights for all women; end all forms of violence against women; eradicate racism, sexism and homophobia; and promote equality and justice.