By Lisa McCormick
Since the Founding, Congress has used Article V’s procedures to propose 33 amendments and the states have ratified 28 of them, but only 27 are part of the Constitution.
The time has come to demand justice, equality, and the full recognition of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as part of the United States Constitution.
The ERA, which declares 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,” was rightfully ratified by 38 states—the constitutional threshold required for amendment adoption.
Congress’ arbitrary imposition of a time limit on ratification is an unconstitutional overreach, as Article V of the Constitution grants no such authority to restrict the will of the people.
The ERA is not just a legal formality; it is a moral imperative to dismantle systemic oppression and ensure that all citizens are treated as equals under the law.
The ERA’s ratification by 38 states fulfills the constitutional requirement for amendment adoption. Congress’s attempt to impose a time limit on ratification is an illegitimate power grab, unsupported by the text of Article V. The Constitution does not grant Congress the authority to dictate when or how the people may amend it. The ERA’s ratification is complete, and it must be recognized as the 28th Amendment.
The current legal system perpetuates a culture of violence and subjugation against women. Legal rules permit—and sometimes mandate—the terrorization of the female body, as seen in anti-abortion laws that strip women of autonomy and force them to carry unwanted pregnancies to term.
These laws not only deprive women of their fundamental rights but also endanger their lives by hindering access to critical medical care for miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and other complications.
Legal rules permit—and sometimes mandate—the maternalization of the female body, reducing women to their reproductive capacities and denying them equal opportunities in education, employment, and public life.
Women are too often forced to choose between their careers and their families, while systemic barriers perpetuate wage gaps and workplace discrimination.
Legal rules permit—and sometimes mandate—the sexualization of the female body, subjecting women to harassment, exploitation, and violence.
From inadequate protections against sexual assault to the objectification of women in media and law, the system perpetuates a culture that devalues women and denies them dignity.
Anti-abortion laws are an assault on human rights
Anti-abortion laws are not just an attack on reproductive rights; they are an assault on human dignity and bodily autonomy.
These laws force women with unwanted pregnancies to give birth against their will, effectively reducing them to second-class citizens.
They also endanger lives by delaying or denying medical care for patients suffering miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and other complications.
The ERA is essential to ensure that no government can impose such cruel and inhumane restrictions on women’s bodies.
We demand that the ERA be immediately recognized as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. We call on Congress, the President, and the courts to uphold the will of the people and reject the illegitimate time limit imposed on ratification. We stand united in the fight for equality, justice, and the protection of all citizens from systemic oppression.
The ERA is not just a legal document; it is a declaration of our shared humanity. It is a promise that no one will be terrorized, maternalized, or sexualized by the law. It is a guarantee that every person—regardless of sex—will be treated as an equal under the law. The time for equality is now. The time for the ERA is now.
Join us in the fight for justice. The ERA is the law. Equality is non-negotiable.
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