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Action Alert US Senate

February 19, 2020 by Audrey Muck 1 Comment

CALL TO ACTION

On February 13, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 79 to remove the arbitrary time limit for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Now the battle moves to the Senate. And NOW is the time for you to phone, write, message, and text N.C. Senators Tillis and Burr with this clear, simple message:

Dear Sen. _____:

“Please vote ‘yes’ to remove the deadline to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment by passing SJR 6. As your constituent, I strongly support equal rights for all and appreciate your voting ‘yes’ to drop the time limit. Thank you so much!!”

Contact information:

Senator Thom Tillis
113 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
Phone Number: (202) 224-6342
Contact form for comments: www.tillis.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me

Senator Richard Burr
217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone Numbers: (202) 224-3154 or (800)685-8916
Contact form for comments: www.burr.senate.gov/contact/email

Virginia Ratifies the ERA!

January 29, 2020 by Audrey Muck Leave a Comment

On January 27th, 2020, both the chambers of the Virginia state legislature voted “yes” on House Joint Resolution 1 (by a vote of 58-40) and its sister bill, SJ1 (by a vote of 27-12), formally ratifying the ERA.

And with that, we’ve reached the Constitution’s required three-quarters of the states ratifying the amendment for certification.

The ERA declares simply: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on account of sex.”

A collection of statements on the ratification:

Jessica Neuwirth and Carol Jenkins, co-presidents of the national ERA Coalition told CNN Politics: “We are finally within reach of true equality for girls and women in the United States, thanks to the voters of Virginia and supporters across the country.”

Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority and former president of the National Organization for Women writes, “At last! At last!” She says, “I have had the privilege of being one of the leaders in the ERA fight for nearly 50 years. I always knew this day would come. It has never been a question of if, but only a question of when the ERA would be ratified. The fight for the ERA has been long because we’ve had a powerful entrenched opposition who has wanted to preserve the old order of women being forced to work twice as hard for half as much and paying more for less. But this time of taking advantage of women and their families is coming to an end.”

From Toni Van Pelt, president of the National Organization for women: “Today’s crossover vote makes Virginia officially the 38th state needed to ratify the ERA—passing the three-fourths of the states threshold the U.S. Constitution requires for final adoption of an amendment. However, obstacles to certification remain, including an artificial timeline imposed in the preamble to the ERA in 1972. While the timeline removal bill making its way through Congress is not necessary—legal analysts have asserted that Article V of the Constitution does not permit the imposition of deadlines on the ratification process—it would provide extra insurance as the ERA certification process goes forward. NOW calls on Congress to act on S.J.Res.6 and correct the Constitution’s most glaring omission. It is simply never too late for equality.”

Equal Means Equal film director, Kamala Lopez, wrote: “This moment has been a long time coming, but finally the United States can emerge from the shame and shadow of its historic discrimination against women and girls and join the 21^st century by providing all Americans with equal rights and protections under our Constitution regardless of sex.”

Now the focus turns to the lawsuit filed by Equal Means Equal January 8th in U.S. District Court in Boston to prevent a government official from blocking efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, arguing that the Congressionally imposed ERA ratification deadline is unconstitutional.

In addition to this lawsuit, the ERA-NC Alliance will keep the drumbeat going for the ERA. That means we will continue to work for state ratification – and here in North Carolina we’re determined to be the 39th state to ratify the ERA. With each additional state ratification, we will show that it is the will of the American people to see women equally protected under the United States Constitution.

On the federal level, we are working to lift that pesky deadline by Congressional action, and during the week of Feb. 10^th the U.S. House will take up the bill (HJ79) to eliminate the time limit on the amendment. The U.S. Senate has a sister bill (SJ6), which is a bi-partisan bill with 41 co-sponsors.

We invite you to join the ERA-NC Alliance and to volunteer your time and yes – your dollars! – to help us make North Carolina the next state to ratify. We will win!!!

Responses to Arguments Against the Equal Rights Amendment

September 15, 2019 by Audrey Muck 1 Comment

Abortion:

“ERA has nothing to do with abortion” and “pro-life and ERA “do not conflict” (Rep. Steve Andersson of Illinois, a Republican, practicing attorney, and lead ERA supporter)
Ratifying a federal ERA will not change state law at all; so, it will not lead to any change in state laws relating to abortion. (Winston & Strawn LLP law firm)
“Over 300 pro-life laws passed in the last 8 years – most in states that voted for ERA” (Rep. Jill Tolles of Nevada, pro-life Republican who spoke in support of the ERA ratification)

Fear of Losing Rights for Women:

“I surveyed the past 45 years after 41 states had some form of ERA. Many of the fearful consequences have not nor will they occur.” (Rep. Jill Tolles)
Issues presented by conservative family coalitions around transgender and same sex bathrooms are not connected to the ERA. Rep. Steve Andersson states “none of which would happen under ERA and I can prove it to you.”
The government would still be able to draw a distinction based on sex if it passes “strict scrutiny”. Most of the laws we think of as benefiting women like social security regulations, estate laws, laws requiring child and spousal support are actually already sex-neutral. (Winston & Strawn)

Women already have enough protections

The 14^th Amendment and the 5^th Amendment do not apply to sex in the same way they apply to race or national origin. The result is that sex discrimination is viewed less strictly than other discriminatory acts (Winston & Strawn)
The US Constitution does not guarantee equal rights for women. The late Justice Scalia has stated, “Certainly the Constitution does not require discrimination on the basis of sex. The only question is whether it prohibits it. It doesn’t.”

Republican Voices

Jill Tolles: Her vote for the ERA was made out of “gratitude and respect for countless others who fought for women to have an equal voice and equal value and for my daughters and the generations to come.”

Rep. Jim Durkin, Republican leader in Illinois legislature: Changed his vote to support the ERA because “I couldn’t do it to my daughter.”

Rep. Steve Andersson: “Republicans have to find areas that are good social advances.”

Compiled by Ann Von Brock, ERA-NC Alliance, 2019

Sources:
– Written Copy of Speech by Jill Tolles, 2017
– Public Speech by Steve Andersson to Arizona ERA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftKIF9cV800&t=9s&fbclid=IwAR2JWhVSfIQrEYfSDbWfi9DKQUeS-RAFSBdk6r9c5CbVRIaf6MgQljEHXW4

Constitution Day Activities

August 18, 2019 by Audrey Muck 1 Comment

Constitution Day Billboard Campaign Sample Activities

House Parties

Show the film “Legalize Equality”
Discuss with guests
Give each guest a complimentary copy of a pocket Constitution
Have each guest sign one designated copy of a Constitution
Present the signed copy to your County Commissioners or City Council members and ask them to work to pass an ERA Resolution as a
Invite guests to join ERA-NC Alliance

Constitution Day and the ERA

August 18, 2019 by Audrey Muck 3 Comments

ERA Billboard — Click to download high-resolution image.

Note to Press: you can also download the press release for this event.

The ERA-NC Alliance, AAUW-NC and NC NOW are launching a statewide ERA awareness campaign in advance of Constitution Day. Billboards, installed strategically across North Carolina (see locations below), will call for state ratification of the ERA. During the weeks leading up to Constitution Day on Sept. 17, advocates will promote ERA ratification with a series of activities, including an Instagram challenge.

The presidents of the three statewide organizations will jointly announce the campaign at a press conference August 22nd at 2 pm in the NC Legislative Building Press Room with state Sen. Floyd B. McKissick, Jr., and Rep. Carla Cunningham, the primary sponsors of ERA bills SB184 and HB271, respectively. Additional primary sponsors of the bills are Sens. Erica Smith and Terry Van Duyn, as well as Reps. Susan Fisher, Evelyn Terry and Julie von Haefen. You can watch the full press conference. [Read more…] about Constitution Day and the ERA

2019 Board Member Elections

August 16, 2019 by Audrey Muck 1 Comment

Dear Members of the ERA-NC Alliance:

In advance of our Annual Meeting on October 5th, the Nominating Committee of the Alliance is seeking candidates for Directors for the 2020-2021 term (2 years). Any Individual Member or member of Lead Organizations who is in Good Standing according to the Bylaws may be eligible to be nominated as a Director.

You will find the Elections Process here, and if you need to update your membership status please visit our Membership Renewal or Join Us page. Please review these, share with anyone else who may be interested, and consider the following:

Would you like to be part of the ERA-NC leadership that is building upon the national momentum and working to make North Carolina the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment?
Are you willing to represent the ERA-NC Alliance, be visible in your community and in the state as an advocate for equal rights regardless of sex, and urge the NC General Assembly to ratify the ERA?
Are you willing to participate in monthly board meeting conference calls, serve on committees as possible, promote the purposes and objectives of the Alliance and help manage the business, property and affairs of the Alliance?
Would you consider an Officer position in the future? If so, which one(s)?

2019 Annual Meeting

July 2, 2019 by Audrey Muck Leave a Comment

You’re invited to attend the
ERA-NC Alliance Annual Meeting

Saturday, October 5, 2019
Noon – 4 pm
(Registration opens at 11:30 am)

Pilgrim United Church of Christ
3011 Academy Road
Durham, NC 27707
pilgrimucc-durham.org

Register for the Annual Meeting HERE.

Keynote Speaker: Kati Hornung

Kati Hornung is Campaign Coordinator for the state-wide, nonpartisan, grassroots VAratifyERA campaign working to ensure Virginia’s ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Her passion on the topic stems from her own life experiences and the interest of her two daughters in achieving constitutional equality. We are pleased to welcome her as our keynote speaker.

We will also celebrate our ERA Champion Award recipients, Joanna Wade, Partner with Winston & Strawn LLP and Julie von Haefen, NC Representative, District 36 (Wake Co.).

During our business meeting we will elect board new board members and review recommended by-laws changes. If you wish to be able to vote at the meeting, you must be a registered, dues-paid member by September 20th. You can easily join or renew your membership online. We are honoring the church’s request that no sales be conducted at the meeting, so we will not be selling t-shirts that day.

If you are interested in running for a position on the board, please review the call for candidates letter.

If you’d like to review the proposed bylaws changes, here are two documents to look at – changes within the full bylaws and proposed changes only.

We’ve arranged for group pricing at a nearby hotel for your convenience. When you register, just let them know you’re with the ERA-NC Alliance Annual Meeting group. Depending on participation, group pricing may end Sept. 20, so book now!

Comfort Inn University Durham/Chapel Hill
3508 Mt. Moriah Road
Durham, NC 27707
www.choicehotels.com/north-carolina/durham/comfort-inn-hotels

Stay tuned for more details!

June Action for the ERA

June 14, 2019 by Audrey Muck Leave a Comment

The Equal Rights Amendment Bills, House Bill 271 and Senate Bill 184, are still active bills since constitutional amendments are exempt from crossover deadline. In the next few weeks, please escalate personal visits, emails, letters, and calls with your elected representatives and senators in the NC General Assembly. It needs to be a face-to-face visit, individualized mailing, or phone call.

First, if your representative or senator is a Republican, please express your insistence that he/she must get the ERA Bills out of committee with a favorable report because women’s rights are foundational to this country. [Read more…] about June Action for the ERA

Our 2019 Moxie Interns!

June 6, 2019 by Audrey Muck Leave a Comment

Please join us in welcoming our 2019 MOXIE Summer Interns!

Kate Jacqueline Shurtleff grew up in Morehead City, North Carolina and currently attends the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she majors in Communication and Women’s & Gender Studies. Upon graduating from UNC, she plans to attend law school and hopes to have a career in human or civil rights law. Through her work with the ERA-NC Alliance, she hopes to not only advance the ERA in the state of North Carolina, but also become more aware of the process of legal activism. Her goals for her participation in the program are to grow as a professional, become more comfortable and familiar with activism in the non-profit sector, and explore the possibility of the legal profession in such activism.

Ann-Marie Ingram is a rising senior at UNC-Chapel Hill and is originally from Statesville, NC. She will graduate from UNC in the Spring of 2020 with majors in Political Science and Public Policy as well as a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. After college, Ann Marie hopes to work with organizations that recruit and support women in running for public political offices. She also takes a special interest in policies that protect and represent the interests of women. Thus, she hopes to learn more about the political processes that go into passing legislation in her work with the ERA-NC Alliance this summer.

Our 2019 Moxie scholars will gain a better understanding of the legislative and social challenges with enacting laws to ensure equality for women. They’ll be working on 4 projects this summer:
1) Increase membership in the ERA-NC Alliance among college-aged women and men.
2) Increase diversity: Understand the needs of and engage with various communities with communication focused on how the ERA will benefit all.
3) Broaden political support across the spectrum for the Equal Rights Amendment.
4) Educate: Part of their experience will be in assisting or preparing for education on the Equal Rights Amendment including displays, programs, written materials, website updates, etc.

The MOXIE Project is an academic and community engagement project through UNC Chapel Hill’s Carolina Women’s Center. Students take a hands-on approach to women’s activism through community organizations during these summer internships, and in the process develop their own sense of activism and community engagement.

Photos & Video of the Clothesline Project

May 25, 2019 by Audrey Muck 2 Comments

May 16, 2019 – ERA-NC Alliance members set up a clothesline at the NC General Assembly to show off all the municipalities, counties and organization resolutions – as well as hundreds of petition signatures – in favor of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. Several of the bill co-sponsors dropped by, and we chatted with many state employees about the fact that women are not formally protected under the US Constitution. So many people believe the amendment was ratified in the ’70’s! Sadly, several members of the NCGA leadership passed us by with a dismissive ‘you don’t need it’ comment, and refused to stop and talk with us. We need to get their attention and hold real conversations about why women in North Carolina and across the country should be in the constitution!