On January 27, 2020, the American people finished ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. And yet it has not been enforced. WTF?

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On January 27, 2020, the American people finished ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. And yet it has not been enforced.

The ERA simply states:

Equality of rights, under the law, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any State on account of sex.

EQUAL MEANS EQUALis a national non-profit organization (originally called the ERA Education Project when it was founded by Kamala Lopez in 2009), dedicated to the immediate publication, adoption and enforcement of the original Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution.

EQUAL MEANS EQUAL has been widely credited for revitalizing the movement to complete ERA ratification after decades of inaction, playing a vital role in the passage of ERA ratification legislation in the states of Nevada (2017), Illinois (2018), and Virginia (2020).

Successful ratification of these final three states means that the ERA now has completed all Constitutional requirements for publication as the 28th Amendment, and it became enforceable federal law on January 27th of 2022.

While the US champions human rights on the global stage, it cannot ignore the pressing issues and inequalities faced by its own citizens. Protecting and preserving basic human rights includes equality before the law.
It is time for the US to align its actions at home with its professed commitment to supporting women's rights elsewhere.

Mel Bailey, Equality Now

Lopez states, "When Virginia ratified ERA in January of 2020, all requirements were satisfied for the ratification of a Constitutional amendment and it became Federal law. Publication and enforcement have been blocked by the Federal Government, first by the Trump Administration and now by the Biden Administration. The illegal withholding of women's constitutional rights and protections cannot be tolerated and must be forcefully and immediately rejected.

"Below are letters from important allies in our fight, scholars and lawmakers of great repute, advocating that the ERA be immediately enshrined in the Constitution. News of their full-throated support should be disseminated far and wide.

"Please contact your Senators today and urge them to pressure the Biden administration to faithfully execute our laws, as is his sworn duty."

Letter from the Hon. Russ Feingold President, American Constitution Society

Letter from Laurence H. Tribe, Carl M. Loeb University Professor Emeritus, Harvard Law

Letter from NY Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform

Authors Website: http://www.OceanViewArts.com

Authors Bio:

Meryl Ann Butler is an artist, author, educator and OpedNews Managing Editor who has been actively engaged in utilizing the arts as stepping-stones toward joy-filled wellbeing since she was a hippie. She began writing for OpEdNews in Feb, 2004. She became a Senior Editor in August 2012 and Managing Editor in January, 2013. In June, 2015, the combined views on her articles, diaries and quick link contributions topped one million. She was particularly happy that her article about Bree Newsome removing the Confederate flag was the one that put her past the million mark.

Her art in a wide variety of media can be seen on her YouTube video, "Visionary Artist Meryl Ann Butler on Creativity and Joy" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGs2r_66QE

A NYC native, her response to 9-11 was to pen an invitation to healing through creativity, entitled, "90-Minute Quilts: 15+ Projects You Can Stitch in an Afternoon" (Krause 2006), which is a bestseller in the craft field. The sequel, MORE 90-Minute Quilts: 20+ Quick and Easy Projects With Triangles and Squares was released in April, 2011. Her popular video, How to Stitch a Quilt in 90 Minutes with Meryl Ann Butler can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrShGOQaJQ8

She has been active in a number of international, arts-related projects as a citizen diplomat, and was arts advisor to Baltimore's CIUSSR (Center for Improving US-Soviet Relations), 1987-89. She made two trips to the former USSR in 1987 and 1988 to speak to artists, craftpeople and fashion designers on the topic of utilizing the arts as a tool for global wellbeing. She created the historical "First US-Soviet Children's Peace Quilt Exchange Project" in 1987-88, which was the first time a reciprocal quilt was given to the US from the former USSR.

Her artwork is in collections across the globe.

Meryl Ann is a founding member of The Labyrinth Society and has been building labyrinths since 1992. She publishes an annual article about the topic on OpEdNews on World Labyrinth Day, the first Saturday in May.

OpEdNews Senior Editor Joan Brunwasser interviewed Meryl Ann in "Beyond Surviving: How to Thrive in Challenging Times" at https://www.opednews.com/articles/Beyond-Surviving--How-to-by-Joan-Brunwasser-Anxiety_Appreciation_Coronavirus_Creativity-200318-988.html

Find out more about Meryl Ann's artistic life in "OEN Managing Ed, Meryl Ann Butler, Featured on the Other Side of the Byline" at https://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/OEN-Managing-Ed-Meryl-Ann-in-Life_Arts-Artistic_Artists_Quilt-170917-615.html

On Feb 11, 2017, Senior Editor Joan Brunwasser interviewed Meryl Ann in Pink Power: Sister March, Norfolk, VA at http://www.opednews.com/articles/Pink-Power-Sister-March--by-Joan-Brunwasser-Pussy-Hats-170212-681.html

"Creativity and Healing: The Work of Meryl Ann Butler" by Burl Hall is at
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Creativity-and-Healing--T-by-Burl-Hall-130414-18.html

Burl and Merry Hall interviewed Meryl Ann on their BlogTalk radio show, "Envision This," at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/envision-this/2013/04/11/meryl-ann-butler-art-as-a-medicine-for-the-soul

Archived articles www.opednews.com/author/author1820.html
Older archived articles, from before May 2005 are here.