Local Youth Sponsor Banner Drop In Support Of Equal Rights Amendment

Eleven members of Generation Ratify – Amherst gathered at the First Churches of Northampton on October 24 to hang a banner stating: “May RBG’s Memory Be A Revolution – Enact the Equal Rights Amendment.” 

Four elected officials were also in attendance: State Representative Mindy Domb, State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, State Senator Jo Comerford, and Congressional Representative Jim McGovern. This banner drop was part of a nation-wide banner drop hosted by Generation Ratify.

Generation Ratify is a youth led organization founded just over a year ago by five teenagers passionate about pursuing legal gender equality, ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and passing SJ Res 6, the resolution to remove the deadline on the ratification of the ERA. The Generation Ratify – Amherst chapter was founded by Marisol Pierce Bonifaz last spring (she serves as co-chair with Edy Savage) after an inspiring event with Rosie Couture, the national director. The local chapter currently has 14 active members working on diverse projects including the banner drop, education on the issue of gender equality, and get-out-the-vote for the general election. 

Bonifaz said, “It is outrageous that our generation has to fight for our fundamental human rights to be guaranteed regardless of gender, and that the United States has not accepted the basic fact that everyone should be equal under the law. So many gender equality activists have died without seeing justice.” The Equal Rights Amendment, written by Alice Paul, was proposed at the Seneca Falls 75th Women’s Rights Convention, as well as to Congress in 1923. “Our message is so crucial to today,” she added, “because we are grieving hero and legend Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing, and refuse to accept Judge Amy Coney Barrett as her replacement.  We are fighting for the fundamental simple right: to be equal under the law regardless of gender.” 

Written by Marisol Pierce Bonifaz