Press Release
For Immediate Release: May 20, 2024
Contact:
Betty Folliard betty.folliard@gmail.com 612-868-3511
Curtis Johnson Curtisrjohnson@hotmail.com (651) 983-0515
Saint Paul – ERA Minnesota (ERAMN) is calling on Governor Tim Walz to open an immediate Special Session to bring both houses of the Minnesota Legislature back to the table and finish passing the Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
“Minnesota has waited for 41 years to pass the state ERA; and a year-and-half ago at the beginning of this biennium DFL leaders were offered several options to get the work done,” said ERAMN President Curtis Johnson. “28 other states already have state ERAs: Minnesota is unexceptional when it comes to equality. No other movement has had to endure this long while fighting to end the indignities of sex / gender discrimination, racism, glaring disparities, historical stereotyping, online degradation, pay inequity, sexual violence, etc., barriers that have thwarted our citizens’ economic well-being.”
“For 2 years in a row the ERA was pushed to be debated on the last day of Session,” said Betty Folliard, Founder of ERA Minnesota. “Now we ask Governor Tim Walz to call a Special Session as soon as possible to pass the ERA so the Equal Rights Amendment may go to the voters. If it doesn’t happen this year, we may have to wait another generation for equality: that’s not right, it’s not fair, and it doesn’t reflect the values of our state.”
Letting the ERA go dormant would be a devastating loss for the people of Minnesota, especially women, BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ people, and marginalized and intentionally minority communities.
ERA Minnesota asks the Governor to call a Special Session, invite the two bodies back to the negotiation table to work out minor differences, come to compromise and finalize the ERA to put equality before Minnesotans once and for the good of all.
ERA Minnesota is a coalition of advocates & allied organizations dedicated to adding the Equal Rights Amendment into our state & federal constitutions. Founded in 2014.