Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm

"For the Equal Rights Amendment"

delivered 10 Aug 1970, Washington, DC

Mr. Speaker, House Joint Resolution 264, before us today, which provides for equality under the law for both men and women, represents one of the most clear-cut opportunities we are likely to have to declare our faith in the principles that shaped our Constitution. It provides a legal basis for attack on the most subtle, most pervasive, and most institutionalized form of prejudice that exists. Discrimination against women, solely on the basis of their sex, is so widespread that is seems to many persons normal, natural and right.

Legal expression of prejudice on the grounds of religious or political belief has become a minor problem in our society. Prejudice on the basis of race is, at least, under systematic attack. Their is reason for optimism that it will start to die with the present, older generation. It is time we act to assure full equality of opportunity to those citizens who, although in a majority, suffer the restrictions that are commonly imposed on minorities, to women.[source]

The Equal Rights Amendment has yet to be adopted. The women of the United States have never received the benefit of a Constitutional amendment to redress discrimination against them. But men and women of the United States still fight for equal rights for women. They do so when they contribute to retire Senator Clinton's debt. They do so when they donate to Stephanie Tubbs Jones for reelection and to Sheila Jackson Lee for reelection, women who have been threatened with retaliation - by fellow Democrats no less - just because of their unstinting support of and loyalty to Senator Clinton throughout the campaign season.