A Century in the Making: ERA YES!

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NCJW Celebrates the Recognition of the Equal Rights Amendment as the Law of the Land.

WASHINGTON — Today, President Biden issued a statement indicating that the Equal Rights Amendment is the law of the land. While many believed the only path to the Equal Rights Amendment was through the National Archivist, President Biden, under advisement of legal scholars, decided that the Equal Rights Amendment has cleared all necessary hurdles to be formally added to the Constitution as the 28th Amendment.

With appreciation of the years-long and multi-faceted efforts of our advocates to advance our movement, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) CEO Sheila Katz shared the following:

“After a century of tireless advocacy, history has finally been made. President Biden’s recognition of the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution marks a monumental shift for our nation. For the first time, our Constitution will affirm that gender equality is not just a value but a protected right for all Americans. While President Biden’s approach to affirming the ERA will be challenged legally, we support and are in full agreement with his argument that the Equal Rights Amendment has cleared all necessary hurdles to be formally added to the Constitution as the 28th Amendment.

“This is a victory for women and girls and for anyone who has ever been denied opportunities or basic dignity because of their gender. This is a victory for LGBTQ+ individuals, for those who have faced harassment in the workplace, for survivors of domestic violence, and for anyone who has been told they were worth less simply because of who they are. Today, the promise of equal protection under the law will become a reality for millions of people in this country.

“As a Jewish organization that launched ‘Faith in the ERA,’ this moment resonates deeply with our tradition. In Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Sages) 1:18, we are taught ‘the world stands on three things: truth,  justice, and peace.’ Today’s recognition embodies all three, moving us closer to a world that reflects the values we hold dear. For decades, NCJW has fought for these values by mobilizing millions of advocates to make the ERA a reality.

“The Equal Rights Amendment is more than words on paper; it is a powerful shield against gender discrimination in all its forms. It ensures protections in the workplace against harassment and unequal pay. It breaks down barriers to education, reproductive health care, and financial independence. It empowers survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, giving them the protections they deserve. It protects the LGBTQ+ community to live their lives authentically.

“For too long, our daughters, granddaughters, sisters, and friends have been told to accept a system that works against them. Today, we tell them something different: you are equal in the eyes of the law.

“We thank President Biden for his leadership and moral courage in acknowledging that the ERA has cleared all necessary hurdles to become part of the Constitution. And we celebrate every person who worked to make this moment possible — 225,000 NCJW advocates and organizational partners across the country, especially the ERA Coalition, and generations before us who refused to stop fighting.

“This is a historic milestone, but the work doesn’t end here. We know that there will be legal hurdles ahead. NCJW will work to ensure that the ERA’s promise is fully realized and that its protections are felt by every single person, in every community.

“Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we continue the work.”

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