SBWPC Friendraiser: Publish the ERA!

SBWPC invites you to join us in celebration of the ERA and to raise awareness of the status of the Amendment. Many are not aware that despite ratification by the 38th state, Virginia in 2020, the ERA has yet to be published as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The former Archivist retired without publishing the ERA, and the confirmation of Colleen Joy Shogan as the next Archivist has been overshadowed by the news of the discovery of classified documents in former President Trump’s residence. Her confirmation passed the House, but has yet to be voted upon in the Senate.

The text of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) states that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex” and further that “the Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.” By the terms of Article V of the Constitution itself, an amendment becomes valid upon ratification by the 38th state. As a technical legal matter, Archivist publication merely confirms the completion of the constitutionally mandated ratification process and is not necessary to render the amendment valid. However, President Biden has not ordered the Archivist to certify and publish the ERA, nor has he issued a statement regarding his position on the current status of the ERA.

Come see the powerful artworks created in support of the ERA. We will provide light refreshments. Bring a friend to learn more about SBWPC, a progressive, feminist non-partisan political action committee, making a difference on the Central Coast.