ERA
“The equal rights amendment, in sum, would dedicate the nation to a new view of the rights and responsibilities of men and women. It firmly rejects sharp legislative lines between the sexes as constitutionally tolerable. Instead, it looks toward a legal system in which each person will be judged on the basis of individual merit and not on the basis of an unalterable trait of birth that bears no necessary relationship to need or ability.” -Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Why Do We Need the Equal Rights Amendment?
Most Americans think there is a provision in the Constitution protecting women from discrimination, but that does not exist.
Ironically, we have insisted that other countries, such as Afghanistan, include such a provision.
The Equal Rights Amendment will guarantee equal status under the law and provide bedrock legal protection when women—or men—face sex discrimination.
Equal Protection would cover:
• Lack of equal pay for equal work
• Pregnancy discrimination
• Violence against women
• Other forms of sex discrimination These are widespread, but those facing sex discrimination don’t have effective legal relief.
Without the ERA, the Constitution does not explicitly guarantee that the rights it protects are held equally by all citizens without regard to sex. The first — and still the only — right specifically affirmed as equal for women and men is the right to vote.
What We All Need To Do:
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a priority for the Hollywood Chapter for the National Organization for Women (Hollywood NOW). We are identifying candidates, organizations, and current elected officials that currently support the ERA is the remaining states that have yet to ratify it. Currently, we only need one more state to ratify the amendment, before the real legal challenges being.
Hollywood NOW has identified Arizona as our priority state for ratifying the amendment. In October 2018, the chapter traveled to Arizona with ERA NOW to help get out the vote in Legislative District 17 for candidates Jennifer Pawlik and Steve Weichert. We are pleased to announce, that Jennifer Pawlik was elected to the Arizona House. Jennifer is the perfect example of never giving up! She ran in 2016 and lost by 1% and now she is the top vote-getter! While Republicans still control the Arizona House, their majority is extremely slim and we continue to push for them to introduce ERA ratification!
Please keep an eye out for future actions and trips to Arizona to make sure the ERA is passed once and for all!
Dear Equality Warrior,
We are excited to share with you the fifth episode of Woman’s Journal 2.0: Episode 5: Zoe Nicholson: On the Beauty of A Hungry Heart
Woman’s Journal 2.0 interviews renowned ERA Activist, Author & Organizer Zoe Nicholson whose hunger strike for the ERA in 1982 became the basis for her book The Hungry Heart: A Woman’s Fast for Justice.
Hear Zoe’s intimate and breathtaking anecdotes about Alice Paul, her furious passion for justice and her unstoppable spirit. As one of the only women that was still maintaining the flame of hope for ERA when I stumbled upon the issue in 2009, Zoe was my first mentor and teacher on my journey with the Equal Rights Amendment. She continues to inspire everyone who meets or hears her.
Additionally, Wendy Murphy’s clear and clearly rational explanation for the EME’s legal strategy regarding the ERA deadline is detailed herein, as she explains to Zoe why all eyes, all money, all hands must be focused on Virginia now, in order to achieve the 38th state and move into the next phase of our fight for equality, should there be one. – Kamala Lopez
Don’t wait to sign up to help in Virginia with our iScream4Equality Campaign.
iScream4Equality Tour Truck Schedule and Sign Up:
https://signup.com/group/657001764374224059
EME VA House Sign Up:
https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/2925699/true#/invitation
Make your plans to come out – you won’t regret it.
Help us fulfill the promise of Equal Rights for All.
Sign up here to book your room at the EME HOUSE NOW!
Remember there are other ways to help if you can’t come! Please share this link widely: https://equalmeansequal.org/2020-vision-equality
With love and thanks,
Kamala, Natalie & the EME Team
