Alice Paul: Feminist, Suffragist and Political Strategist
On this day in 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment, after passing the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, was sent to the states for ratification. The ERA says, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”
The Equal Rights Amendment was written in 1923 and spearheaded by Alice Paul. It took 49 years to pass Congress but it was never ratified because not enough states supported it and Congress sets a time limit for ratification. To read more about the deadlines, the history and the activity by state, click here. Now, 39 years later, Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has introduced legislation (H.J. Res.47 ) to remove the Congressionally-imposed deadline for ratification. If Baldwin’s legislation passes, the ERA will need just three more states to finally pass. If H.J. Res 47 fails, years of work will be undone.
Remember the outcry when Justice Scalia was quoted earlier this year in California Lawyer, as saying the constitution does not protect against discrimination on the basis of gender? Let’s change that.
Call your Congressperson (877-762-8762 OR 202-224-3121) and ask them to become a co-sponsor of H. J. Res. 47, “Removing the Deadline for the Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.”
