Women's Rights Swung the Vote in Three States

According to commentators, the womens rights issue swung the vote in Illinois, Nevada, and Florida. Only three states are needed to ratify the ERA, which does not regulate birth control or same sex marriage, but would grant women equal protection with men under the Constitution, which is something women do not have at this time.

What say we raise our voices in unison to demand that our law makers give women the equal Constitutional protection they claim we already have but in reality do not?

Why do we need an Equal Rights Amendment?

Other that the fact that it is the right thing to do?

Stand for what is right without destroying each other

Hatred and prejudice are just as in-excusable when directed against members of opposing political parties, members of the opposite sex, etc., as they are when directed against people of other races and ethnicity. Isn't it possible to attack what is wrong and destructive without becoming wrong and destructive ourselves?

Abortion legal contraception accessible still no equal rights

 Right now, economic equality and equal opportunity are critical issues facing entire families who depend upon women to provide for daily needs of survival and education which plays a significant part in providing future needs for future families. Passing fair pay laws is a necessity, but these laws only treat the problem. They do not cure the disease, which is inequality.  Only by ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment can a real solution be provided. That is the foundation upon which any lasting solution can be based. Men and women who love liberty and equality should mobilize in support of ratifying ERA.

And regardless of one’s perspective on birth control and abortion, it is a fact that birth control is already easily and affordably available. And abortion has been legal for almost 30 years. It is time to stop clamoring for what has already been obtained and to focus on that which has not been obtained—constitutional protection and equality for women via the Equal Rights Amendment...read more here .

Educating Someone Confused about the true meaning about ERA

http://lakeland.craigslist.org/grp/2965823447.html is a craigslist posting for the ERA and I had an email response as follows:

Are you talking about same-sex marriage?

Because the ERA is long gone and it was about women. It existed in the 1970's.

My Response is as follows:

No I am not talking about same sex marriage. The ERA is not long gone, it was just never passed because, even though it had seven years it did not meet the qualifications. Mainly because women were getting treated better so it seemed not as big of an issue, but women still do not have constitutional equality. It only needs to be ratified in three more states in order to be passed. 

Although you are right that in the 1970's there was much talk about it, protesting etc. However, there are other reasons that it was not passed and we are working on getting it passed. There are many people that are working on the political side, but not many working on raising awareness and people need to know that it is still an issue and the ERA needs to be passed.

By the way thank you for responding to the ad and I hope that you join our group and help support us.  ~~Ryan

ERA What's it all about

What does ERA mean to you? Comments please.

Concerned Citizens for Equality

Who Are We?

Concerned Citizens for Equality is a diverse group of citizens coming together in support of only one thing—ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. We happily agree to set aside our differences in focusing together on seeing the Amendment ratified. We understand this to be a foundational protection for all Americans—both women and men—and is harmful to none.  

   Concerned Citizens for Equality believes that citizens from a broad spectrum of racial, social, political, and religious backgrounds can come together in support of the one thing we agree that we all need, and that is an Equal Rights Amendment.

   We have resolved not to confuse the issues or to seek to incorporate multiple issues into our advocacy within the group.

   Our one and only platform is ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

   With ongoing controversy concerning birth control, abortion, and same sex marriage, many proponents of the ERA forget that passing the Equal Rights Amendment would regulate none of these things yet are attempting to capitalize on the controversy in order to further the movement to ratify ERA.

   Concerned Citizens for Equality believe this “blending of the issues” to be one of the primary reasons ERA has not yet been ratified. Many who would otherwise join together in insisting that our lawmakers ratify the Amendment have been polarized by strong opposing—often sacred—convictions, which polarization is deliberately promoted by those who fear and hate the idea of Constitutional equality and protection for all Americans regardless of sex.

   Because of conflicting ideologies, we have been encouraged to fear each other and separate ourselves from the very thing that would give us the political strength and popular support needed to ratify the amendment—and that is each other.

   We understand and are committed to helping others understand that not a single one of the issues which tend to keep supporters of equality separated would be regulated or violated by passage of the desperately needed Equal Rights Amendment!

   The side issues are just that, side issues. We do not claim that they are unimportant. We agree that they are very important. But we have resolved that we will no longer allow these side issues to separate us, nor will we make them the nexus of our arguments in favor of passing the Equal Rights Amendment.

   The Equal Rights Amendment will grant Constitutional equality and Constitutional protection to all Americans, both women and men. That is the beginning, the middle, and the end of it.

   We have resolved to stop blending and confusing the issues and have joined together in support of the one thing that we all agree is a good thing, and that is the EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

 The complete text of the Equal Rights Amendment

Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

Our message is simple: Ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment is simply the RIGHT thing to do.

Below is a transcript of the very short speech made before the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation in on Sept. 27, 2011 by founder, Jocelyn Andersen. The following succinctly sums up the mission and message Concerned Citizens for Equality:

   "Only three states are needed to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

   Women are guaranteed only one right under the United States Constitution, and that is the right to vote. This should be unacceptable to all Americans.

   The 14th Amendment is often cited as giving women equal rights. It does not. It does not mention women at all but does specify that only men can vote. It is rather antiquated and it has been suggested that it be repealed.

  American women enjoy many privileges today, but they are just that, privileges—not rights. Privileges are easily revoked while rights, on the other hand, are not.

   American Women are forced to accept revocable privileges in exchange for rights because we do not enjoy the same level of protection under the United States Constitution that American men do.

   Barry Goldstein stated in his Times article that 40 states have determined that gender bias against mothers exists in their family court systems. This is resulting in immeasurable harm to children who are being placed in the custody of abusers in alarming numbers. We need an Equal Rights Amendment, among other things, to stop this abuse of women and children in our family court systems.

    America is just three states away from ratifying an amendment that would guarantee Constitutional equality for all of its citizens, not just its male citizens."

Contact Info

Concerned Citizens for Equality

113 Cotton Ct

Auburndale, FL 33823

ATTN: Jocelyn Andersen

(863)206-8639

eramendment@gmail.com

http://eramendment.blogspot.com/

http://Twitter.com/jocelynandersen  

There is nothing about Equality that should frighten us. But inequality should terrify us!

http://jocelynandersen.blogspot.com/2012/02/warriors-for-era.html 

Open Letter to Judge Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi

The Honorable Liliana S. DeAvila-Silebi
Judge of the Justice Court of Bergen County New Jersey
10 Main Street
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601Case# 09-06-1226-I, New Jersey vs. George Hartwig Sentencing scheduled for March 23, 2012

Dear Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi,

I am writing as a concerned citizen interested in fair and equal justice for women, about the case of George Hartwig and his violence against his wife, Denise Richardson, and his sister-in-law, Louisa Rodas.

This case, as you well know, is one of the most tragic accounts of domestic violence in recent memory. I have followed this case closely since these crimes were committed by George Hartwig in December of 2008. It is apparent to me, and to most women alive today, that the law does not adequately protect women from abusers known and unknown, and that the convention in law is to allow for lesser sentences when a man abuses a person, especially a woman or child, that he knows and has a relationship with.

This seems completely upside down to me. A man who perpetrates violence against a woman with whom he has a relationship–whatever that relationship–should receive a harsher, not a lesser sentence. Women should, without question, expect that the men in their lives will at the very least do them no physical harm.

George Hartwig has a long history of criminal activity, including domestic violence and drug/alcohol charges. If the law had done its job when it released him after he had bashed in the skull of his wife to secure her pain medications for himself, Louisa might still be the functioning, smiling woman she was before George Hartwig shot her.

The law will have to live with that black stain on it, but it can take action to correct this wrong.I am writing to ask you to sentence George Hartwig to the maximum sentences that are allowed for the 10 crimes he’s been charged with, and that you order these sentences to be served consecutively.

Doing this will send a powerful message to the women of today that justice will be served when they are victims of a crime at the hands of a loved one. It will also serve as a powerful message to the men in our communities that violence against the women they are supposed to love and cherish will not be tolerated by the society in which we live.

You have the power to deliver this message, to stop giving this man more chances to harm more women, including Betty Jean Kling, whose life will be in danger if he is ever released. I urge you to do the right thing and deliver this message in the form of your sentence upon George Hartwig. I thank you for taking the time to consider my appeal and the appeals of others who are interested in seeking fair and equal justice for  women who suffer domestic violence.

Sincerely...,

http://louisaslaw.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/help-get-justice-for-louisa/