The world’s largest feminist organization; the nation’s foremost women’s advocacy group. Founded in 1966 by twenty-eight women, including Betty Friedan and African American feminist and Episcopalian minister Pauli Murray, it was originally conceived as a corollary to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). NOW’s statement of purpose was “to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society” NOW’s five specific priorities became the passing of an Equal Rights Amendment to the US Constitution, opposing racism, advocating for abortion and reproductive rights, supporting lesbian and gay rights and ending violence against women.