Here’s Your REPORT on the Rally-Protest against the War On Women on the front lawn, USA Capitol, DC, Saturday, Aug 18,2012

via Sandy Oestreich, Pres, founder, Nat’l Equal Rights Amendment Alliance

(sooo FUN, we’re gonna’ do it again! Stay tuned.) *See our vintage Equal Rights Amendment banner that Sandy marched with in the 1970s, below.  *PS Sandy speaks in Jacksonville on Friday Aug 24 at 1pm “Women’s Equality Day” and Blog Talk Radios, Tennessee, NJ, and nationwide. See [email protected], www.2PassERA.org, Fbk:PasstheEqualRightsAmendment, Twitter: @sandyo

Watch in pics for Sandy Oestreich, Pres., National Equal Rights Amendment Alliance in the red polka-dot dress with Equal Rights Amendment Crew Chief BJ Kling in pics at the mike, etc.   “Absolutely astonished and thrilled at the turnout and the amazing number of Equal Rights Amendment organizations here, most we weren’t even aware of!  But they sprang into action just as www.WeAreWoman.us did when they heard what Ol’ Limbaugh called a young lady lawyer! And when they SAW listings of the 916 anti-woman, anti-family bills filed IN JUST 3 MONTHS across the USA and in Congress continuing!

The forest fire of neo-medieval sex discrimination now scorching the country will be made AVIOLATION OF THE US CONSTITUTION by Equal Rights Amendment! We have a commitment from other organizations and individuals now to FOCUS with lazer-gaze on PASSING THE Equal Rights Amendment since Equal Rights Amendment under girds all issues of women and the men who respect and love them! NOTHING else has the power.”

First, IMPORTANT Equal Rights Amendment task right now, please, for you: Please phone Florida’s US Congressman Bill Young, 727 394-6950 (say “Cong Young PROMISED to co-sponsor HJRes 47 to pass Equal Rights Amendment at the August St Pete Republican Picnic. I am REMINDING him, and there are witnesses.”) Then phone US Senator Bill Nelson, 1 888 671-4091. (say,“For years 300,000 Equal Rights Amendment members of the Equal Rights Amendment NATIONAL MOVEMENT have asked for Sen. Nelson’s co-sponsorship of Equal Rights Amendment bills. SJRes39 is his chance to stand up for women and watch them vote!. We expect co-sponsorship now.” CLOG their phones. Both are the sister-ERA-bills to speed up Equal Rights Amendment passage that we helped create and file! Sandy urges YOU to do this IMPORTANT, EASY WORK FOR Equal Rights Amendment RIGHT NOW, for YOUR own benefit now. THANKS from us all at www.2PassERA.org

Don’t miss both Summary AND Pics here...

URLs FOR INITIAL PICS OF RALLY/PROTEST:

DATE OF SHOWING ON C-Span IS TBA; HERE'S URL, so BOOKMARK it for now:

1) *http://www.flickr.com/photos/81706750@N02/sets

2) And a photo from Reuters: http://www.trust.org/alertnet/multimedia/pictures/detail.dot?mediaInode=b19fda6e-9574-47a5-894b-addd9444765f

3) More Reuters Photos:

http://www.wearewoman.us/2012/08/initial-photos-from-we-are-woman-rally.html

4) VIDEO: *http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3YjATlM-zM&feature=plcp

Watch for Sandy Oestreich, Pres., National Equal Rights Amendment Alliance, in the red polka-dot dress with Equal Rights Amendment Crew Chief BJ Kling in pics at the mike, etc.   “Absolutely astonished and thrilled at theturnout and the amazing number of Equal Rights Amendment organizations here, most we weren’t even aware of!  But they sprang into action justas www.WeAreWoman.us did when they heard what Ol’ Limbaugh called a young lady lawyer! And when they SAW listings of the 916 anti-woman, anti-family bills filed IN JUST 3 MONTHS across the USA and in Congress continuing!

The forest fire of neo-medieval sex discrimination now scorching the country will be made AVIOLATION OF THE US CONSTITUTION by Equal Rights Amendment! We have a commitment from other organizations and individuals now to FOCUS with lazer-gaze on PASSING THE Equal Rights Amendment since Equal Rights Amendment under girds all issues of women and the men who respect and love them! NOTHING else has the power.”

Quick RALLY-PROTEST Summary fyi:

Attendees sit under painted umbrellas as they gather for the We Are Woman rally for women's rights on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, August 18, 2012.Speakers at the event took on conservative politicians and what they see as anti-woman legislation, while asking their supporters to "remember in November" which side of politics they are on, and to vote in light of those policy differences at election time.  And U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Code-Pink, Planned Parenthood, NOW, Nat'l Council of Women's Organizations, Sandy and others address the We Are Woman rally for women's rights on the west lawn of theU.S. Capitol in Washington, August 18, 2012.

Sun, 94 degrees, some partial overcast (whew!), and NO rain as projected!

C-Span recording it ALL; venue info tba

Interviews by radio:  The Coffee Party;  Bud Fields’ broadcasts from Tennessee, andmore I don’t know yet.  We will be posting this to all our members andmember-organizations as it rolls in

Women, men, children were wall-to-wall from 10 am to suppertime

Endless rousing cheers and legendary cowbell punctuating speeches 

Many women’s irreverent, thrilling music groups performing and spontaneous dancing, cheers, shout-outs

Sloganized parasols, banners  incl. our vintage Natl ERA Alliance’s 2 antique green‘n white ones 4x6 feet at the podium that we carried proudly in the 70’s; our 3x 8 foot banner across the podium when

SandyO spoke:  PASS THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT; and the Don Addis cartoon banner w/ Equal Rights Amendment fist coming out of grave, tombstone.

Mock-ups w/pink late uterus w/fallopian tubes and ovaries 6x6 feet

Video of speakers, me too, urging all people and esp. organizations to GET THE MOJO to recognize THE Equal Rights Amendment AS THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEFENSE against AMERICAN FEMALES’ and Males’ issues of unAmerican SEX DISCRIMINATION.  Equal Rights Amendment makes sex discrimination A VIOLATION OF THE US CONSTITUTION—can’t get more powerful than that! Nothing ELSE does it.  We organizations must find the moxie to make Equal Rights Amendment. THE priority as it under girds ALL our issues. So, we must all focus Focus FOCUS on ERA, truly.

Balloons, placards with pics of Boehner, Paul Ryan et al saying Probe THEM, Get Out of My Body, etc.

Meet-ups with hundreds of cyber-friends Natl ERA Alliance has never met face-to-face! Hugs all around!

Feedback everywhere Totally POSITIVE.

THE TAKE-AWAY MESSAGE?   The WOMEN’S REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN

        CONNECT , link arms now to OCCUPY OCCUPY THE CONSTITUTION for Equal Rights Amendment :

Your Natl ERA Alliance forges on in partnership with growing numbers to WORK ENDLESSLY FOR UNWAVERING SOLIDARITY for Passing the Equal Rights Amendment full speed via THREE MORE STATES and HJRes 47 and SJRes 39, US House and Senate speed-up bills!  MAKE SURE YOU CALL #S!

Sign theFacebook.com/ERAnow-ERApetition that urges a Congressional Hearing of new Equal Rights Amendment speed-up bills,  HJRes 47 and SJRes 39, US House and Senate. These are OUR speed-up bills for YOU.

Call YOUR US Senator and Representatives to SIGN ONTO THESE BILLS asap.  Check our 2passERA.org, click LINKS to connect with the other state Equal Rights Amendment initiatives for your friends elsewhere.  Can get a stamper from Office Depot with "www.2PassERA.org" or other for letters and cards you send out anywhere.  PUBLICITY is what Equal Rights Amendment lacks--main media ignores women, we all know.

Contact to focus YOUR ENERGY, YOUR TIME, YOUR DONATIONS for Passing the Equal Rights Amendment, the cure for sex discrimination:

[email protected] / www.2PassERA.org or other Equal Rights Amendments.   CONNECT NOW.

Don’t Iron while the Strike is HOT!

U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) addresses the We Are Woman rally for women's rights on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, August 18, 2012. Speakers at the event took on conservative politicians and what they see as anti-woman legislation, while asking their supporters to "remember in November" which side of politics they are on, and to vote in light of those policy differences at election time. REUTERS PICTURES Photo Credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) addresses the We Are Woman rally for women's rights on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, August 18, 2012. Speakers at the event took on conservative politicians and what they see as anti-woman legislation, while asking their supporters to "remember in November" which side of politics they are on, and to vote in light of those policy differences at election time. REUTERS PICTURES Photo Credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

Jacqueline Nantier, (L) wears a red, white and blue burka, as fellow attendee Laura Kacere voices her mild objections to its use as a protest symbol, at the We Are Woman rally for women's rights on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, August 18, 2012. Speakers at the event took on conservative politicians and what they see as anti-woman legislation, while asking their supporters to "remember in November" which side of politics they are on, and to vote in light of those policy differences at election time. REUTERS PICTURES Photo Credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

People gather for the We Are Woman rally for women's rights on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, August 18, 2012. Speakers at the event took on conservative politicians and what they see as anti-woman legislation, while asking their supporters to "remember in November" which side of politics they are on, and to vote in light of those policy differences at election time. REUTERS PICTURES Photo Credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

Women sit under umbrellas painted to look like a uterus (L) and a pack of birth control pills at the We Are Woman rally for women's rights on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, August 18, 2012. Speakers at the event took on conservative politicians and what they see as anti-woman legislation, while asking their supporters to "remember in November" which side of politics they are on, and to vote in light of those policy differences at election time. REUTERS PICTURES Photo Credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

Women sit under umbrellas painted to look like a uterus (L) and a pack of birth control pills at the We Are Woman rally for women's rights on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, August 18, 2012. Speakers at the event took on conservative politicians and what they see as anti-woman legislation, while asking their supporters to "remember in November" which side of politics they are on, and to vote in light of those policy differences at election time. REUTERS PICTURES Photo Credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

People gather for the We Are Woman rally for women's rights on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, August 18, 2012. Speakers at the event took on conservative politicians and what they see as anti-women legislation, while asking their supporters to "remember in November" which side of polictics they are on, and to vote in light of those policy differences at election time. REUTERS PICTURES Photo Credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

People gather for the We Are Woman rally for women's rights on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, August 18, 2012. Speakers at the event took on conservative politicians and what they see as anti-woman legislation, while asking their supporters to "remember in November" which side of politics they are on, and to vote in light of those policy differences at election time. REUTERS PICTURES Photo Credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

A big thank you to Reuters and photographer Jonathan Ernst for covering the rally!

 

Freebies when you GO SEE THE Off-Broadway NY play, Take What Is Yours, about Alice Paul, the suffrage and Equal Rights Amendment leader! May 3-27, 2012 at 59E59 Theaters. Discussion w/famous speakers: Cong. Maloney, et al. FREE TO Equal Rights Amendment Supporters: Discount tickets after May 10, w/code FEM25at http://59e59.org/moreinfo.php?showid=77. Free year of Ms Mag, too! Info: [email protected]. by Sally Swartz - �Little old lady� still working to pass Equal Rights Amendment in Florida The Equal Rights Amendment is a one simple line:“Equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States orby any state on account of sex.” Congress passed it in 1972. But itnever became part of the U.S. Constitution because only 35 of the required 38states ratified it by a 1982 deadline. Now, a bill in Congress, HJRes 47, could eliminate a purported10-year time limit, giving the Equal Rights Amendment new life when just three more states say yes. Sandy Oestreich, founder andpresident of the National Equal Rights Amendment Alliance, believes Floridawill be one of those states. She has the support of 47 bipartisan co-sponsorsin the Florida legislature and lays claim to 300,000 supporters in 325 majororganizations. The Florida bills remain incommittee and won’t be heard this session, but Ms. Oestreich (pronouncedOH-strike), remains optimistic. She quotes U.S. Supreme Court Justice RuthBader Ginsburg, pointing out that all nations since WWII have Equal Rights Amendment language.Even, Ms. Oestreich adds, Iraq and Afghanistan. “At least THEY have legalground to stand on eventually." Sandy Oestreich has kept that upbeat confidence in12 years crusading for the Equal Rights Amendment in Florida. On Monday, the League of WomenVoters of Martin County honors Ms. Oestreich with its Susan B. Anthony award.Ms. Anthony, the League notes in its newsletter, crusaded for a woman’s rightto vote “until the end of her life.” Ms. Oestreich, 77, said she’ll keep goingeven if she ends up in a wheelchair on oxygen. She’s still healthy and pretty darnfeisty for a woman who describes herself as as “a little old lady trying to dothis impossible thing…I’m like a little annoying mouse, an ankle-biter. I justkeep gnawing away.” She moves from her St. Petersburghome to Tallahassee when the Legislature is in session. Married and the motherof two, Ms. Oestreich was a professor at New York’s Adelphi University, on theUniversity of South Florida’s advisory board and served as vice mayor of NorthRedington Beach on Florida’s west coast. Since, as Ms. Oestreich says, 88percent of the public approves of the Equal Rights Amendment, why has theFlorida legislature failed to approve the Equal Rights Amendment in the past — once by as few astwo votes? “There’s so much animosity toward women,” she said. “Any excuse is usable.” Themost popular excuse at the moment is that the Equal Rights Amendment would be bad for businessbecause giving women equal pay for equal work costs employers too much. Businesses and corporations pressurelegislators, she said, threatening to withhold campaign contributions iflegislators let the bill progress. Some legislators are tied to religiousgroups that oppose women’s rights. Others get caught up in myths that the Equal Rights Amendmenthurts men, calls for unisex bathrooms, or isn’t needed because women areprotected by other laws. All untrue, Ms. Oestreich said.“We’re not against men. We just want a place at the table — and not to be onthe menu anymore.” Her websiteoffers information on the campaign, along with links to contact locallegislators and some enthusiastic organizations. Among Treasure Coast lawmakers, Stuart Republican Rep. William Snyder, leaving the legislature to run forMartin County Sheriff, said he would vote for the Equal Rights Amendment. “I was a pro-womanperson before it was really ‘in,’” he said. “When my daughter was born, itflipped a switch and I thought there’s no way she doesn’t deserve to be equalin every way.” He calls suggestions that employers can save money by not payingwomen equal salaries are “vile.” Sen. Joe Negron of Stuart and Rep.Gayle Harrell of Port St. Lucie, both Republicans, aren’t cosponsors of theFlorida Equal Rights Amendment bills, and their aides did not return calls seeking reasons why.“Some legislators won’t even see us,” Ms. Oestreich said. Several Palm Beach, Broward and Dadelegislators are cosponsors of the bills. While Ms. Oestreich sees no hope formoving forward this year, she remains the eternal optimist. “Everybody deserves equal treatment. Let’s just start with Florida men andwomen,” she said. “I know it will happen, of course.” Sally Swartz is a former member ofThe Post Editorial Board. Her e-mail address is [email protected] ANNOUNCING: Representative Lori Berman & Senator Nan Rich Invite you to our Equal Rights Amendment RALLY & PRESS CONFERENCE Celebrating… The EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT (HCR 8003 / SCR 180) Tuesday, October 18th, 2011 - 5:00 P.M. On the front steps of the Historic Old Capitol, facing Appalachee Hwy. 400 South Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399   We’re rolling out The Red Carpet, Proud of WOMEN! Please RSVP to [email protected] (561) 266-6645/or JUST COME! HAND-HELD SIGNS MUSIC LEARN MEET UP with your legislators…constituents…colleagues…community groups…Friends of Equal Rights Amendment from everywhere… 10/2011 Copyright Equal Rights Alliance, Inc. Sandy Oestreich, founder-president of Equal Rights Alliance Inc, and ERA Education Inc. Prof. Emerita, Adelphi U., NY Fmr. elected official Co-author, internationally distributed pharmacology reference texts Nurse practitioner Biographied in Feminists Who Changed America Wife and mom www.2PassERA.org 2009 Equal Rights Amendment Calendar of Events We Need Each Other for ERA! YOU are EXPRESSLY INVITED FLORIDA'S ALLIANCE MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS ARE SPEAKING OUT / LISTENING UP in MARCH ! WHAT: at our Free Equal Rights Amendment LOBBYING CONSORTIUM MEETING. Meet 'n Greet. Refreshments. We'll strategize BigTime, and share handouts & appointment info. WHEN: ON MARCH 16 OR 17 IN TALLAHASSEE. Preferred: Monday, 3/16 afternoon or evening since many organizations are holding Lobby Days that week and this gives you all time to arrive before lobbying starts in earnest. Let us know if this is not okay for you. WHO is participating: Members of American Assoc. University Women; Business & Professional Women; Commission for Women; Equal Rights Alliance (us), our Equal Rights Amendment Action Teams, and our Champion Equal Rights Amendment Speaking Ambassadors; Florida NOW; Florida women lawyers; Other organizations, and Individual Supporters from all over Florida. We can help with rooms. INVITED TO SPEAK: Honored Equal Rights Amendment Bill Sponsors, SEN. JOYNER and REP. JUAN C. PLANAS ! WHERE: tba. We have ideas about locations for putting our lobbying heads together for this meeting, and are asking for YOUR ideas now at [email protected] RSVP ASAP/NOW to [email protected]. Come, your input is requested and needed. No obligation. Just bring your smiling face and clever mind. You may wish to get more current backgrounding by consulting our site further, www.RatifyERAflorida.net. ************************************ MORE 2009 EVENTS If you want to attend any of the following, ask at [email protected]. January 13, 2009 President Oestreich will be speaking at the Manatee Democratic Women’s Club luncheon at 11:30 a.m. in Bradenton, FL. More tba. Come back again.

Equal Rights Amendment CALENDAR

2008 June 2008 Eager for an appointment to explain the ERA to the House Speaker-designate (R), ERA Inc. relocated to Northwestern Florida’s Panhandle, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties—extremely “conservative”, his district. While there, we gave Equal Rights Amendment talks every day before all political groups and rallies, women’s clubs, with newspaper coverage four times. Audiences were surprisingly receptive to the Equal Rights Amendment. Several joined the Alliance and have held rallies with postcarding and photo-ops. Another group plans a bipartisan alliance there. Though never granted an appointment with Speaker Ray Sansom, we did meet with the region’s Senator Don Gaetz (R) who now gives speeches for the Equal Rights Amendment. Sen. Gaetz is the one who was able to get Special Interests to admit that States’ constitutional Equal Rights Amendments have not brought about the “silliness” they claim Equal Rights Amendment will bring (e.g., “turn all teenagers into prostitutes). Equal Rights Amendment spent the rest of 2008 creating Thank Yous for supportive legislators; networking with member-organizations, speaking; updating our web site; arranging for speakers for the Legislative Delegation Hearings in each Florida county—very effective. A listing of these Premier Equal Rights Amendment Speakers can be found elsewhere. They are absolutely magnificent. Legislators actually applauded one of our speakers! Acquired 31 bill cosponsors. and a male Republican Prime SPONSOR for the House bill HCR 8001, Rep. J.C. Planas. This thanks to Laura Morilla of the Miami-Dade Commission for Women, which is one of Alliance’s member-organizations. Scheduled appointments in Tallahassee with the Chiefs of Staff of Governor Crist and Lt. Governor Kottkamp, and with Senate President Pruitt. Appointment with Speaker Rubio tba. In between, the Alliance staff has been digging through our legal files and consulting with our legal teams nationwide to create our new Rationales for Equal Rights Amendment Ratification. All legislators now have a copy. Ask us for your special copy. Mentored a new Equal Rights Amendment Leader who visited from Virginia. Keeping in touch as she begins work in her new Virginia organization. February 27, Met with Rep. Hooper about the Equal Rights Amendment. Will see him in Tallahassee. February 28, Spoke before Top of the World Democratic Club March 3, deadline for submission of lead article for The Woman Activist, published by the legendary Flora Crater of Crater’s Raiders of the 1st Equal Rights Amendment campaign. March 4, a major Primary Day March 5, tabling for Equal Rights Amendment with Nancy Hoppe at Gloria Steinem event, Eckerd College, 5 pm. March 6, Gala celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the USF Department of Women’s Studies March 7, Meeting, Executive Committee of the Advisory Board, USF Department of Women’s Studies March 9-11, Attend the D.C. NCWO Summit meeting of all the heads of all women's organizations in USA for an Equal Rights Amendment Task Force meeting we initiated. March 13, Celebration of the 85th Anniversary of the Democratic Club and the birthday of one-half of its leadership, Harvey Morgenstein March 16, Drive to the Florida capital, Tallahassee, to begin Equal Rights Amendment lobbying with Debra Fleming (Outreach Coordinator), our College Students for Equal Rights Amendment, and others. We start at the top of the capitol and visit all 160 legislators or aides, floor by floor. March 16, League of Women Voters of Florida dinner; Lobby Days March 17, Florida Womens Consortium meeting March 17, Group Reception March 18, FWC breakfast, then lobbying. Appointments with Sen. Margolis 1 pm, and Senator Joyner March 18, 5:30 Tallahassee BPW Reception March 19, Appointments: Rep Sansom 11 am-11:15; Women’s Legislative Caucus Senate President Pruitt 2 pm March 20, 7:45, Chiefs of Staff (Gov Crist) Eric Eichenberg, (Lt Gov Kottkamp) Larry Ringers April 12, Speak at AAUW, St Augustine SINCE THE DATED EVENTS POSTED HERE FOR LAST YEAR, Alliance spoke at 59 venues in Florida and the Southeast Sent thousands of postcards from constituents sent to Florida legislators Boxed and sent 5416 petitions to Governor Crist and to Speaker Rubio; others to Senate President Pruitt and Rep. Attkisson, who is Chair of the Council where HCR 8001 now resides until it is agendaed, and to Rep. Sansom, where it will go next. Arranged for 67 speakers (one in every county) Sold as fundraisers 150 “Someday a Woman will be President” dolls ($10 each + $5 s/h.) See them on our site. Get yours; manufacturer has closed. Mobilized, organized and publicized Equal Rights Amendment daily Arranged 14 District lobbying events Wrote 24 articles for our organizations' newsletters and had 6 Letters to the Editors published in Florida newspapers Kept this website the most correct, current, and comprehensive in Florida

2007

APRIL April 6, 9 am--Univ. South Florida Advisory Board Exec. Committee meeting, Tampa April 7 and 13--Leagues of Women Voters newsletter deadline April 11, 2 pm--Gulf Beaches Library, Pinellas County, "Equal Rights Amendment is Back, and it's for Men as well as Women" April 14-15, 9am--Unitarian Universalist Fellowship "Equal Rights Amendment Forum", Ocala, with honorary cocktails and dinner the previous evening. Local AAUW to attend, public invited to Forum on Sunday. April 22--Florida Humanist Newsletter deadline April 28, 9:30 am--The Villages Democrats, "Equal Rights Amendment: The Simple Moral American Value of Equality for ALL" March Women's History Month Your Equal Rights Alliance Speaks Click here for times and dates

For more information on the Equal Rights Alliance, send an e-mail to [email protected] for a copy of our brochure.