Check out the following press release from Generation Ratify VA, whose “mission is to correct the historical exclusion of women and people beyond the binary from our Constitution by mobilizing youth across Virginia to take action to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and advance gender equality.” According to the group’s email about their press release:
“We turned out thousands of voters and made the ERA a top election issue. We then worked through the 2020 General Assembly to get it passed. Generation Ratify Virginia adamantly opposes this abuse of power by AG Miyares.”
Good stuff. Now, here’s the press release.
YOUNG VIRGINIANS CONDEMN AG MIYARES FOR DENYING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL EQUALITY
Generation Ratify Virginia, the youth-led movement to push for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in Virginia, opposes AG Miyares’ decision to pull out of a major ERA lawsuit.
On February 18, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced his decision to remove Virginia as a plaintiff from the Commonwealth of Virginia, et al., vs. David S. Ferriero. This lawsuit, if ruled in favor of the plaintiff, would require National Archivist Ferriero to recognize Virginia’s ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 38th and final state needed to amend the Constitution, and certify the ERA. AG Miyares’ decision to pull out of this lawsuit directly contradicts his constituents’ staunch belief in equality.
“As a Virginia teenager, I’m disappointed to see AG Miyares make this harmful decision. In the 2019 elections, young people showed up. We contacted hundreds of thousands of voters, making the ERA a top election issue. We continued to show up through the 2020 General Session. We fought–and continue to fight–to guarantee the passage of the resolution to ratify the ERA, an action supported by 81% of Virginians,” said Abby Garber, State Director of Generation Ratify Virginia. “Young people stand the most to gain from the ratification of the ERA. Our lives, bodies, and futures are on the line. Reproductive freedom, racial justice, and rights for LGBTQ+ youth are on the line. Economic and educational equity for marginalized genders is on the line.”
Generation Ratify Virginia adamantly opposes this decision by AG Miyares. “AG Miyares has failed the youth of Virginia. He has failed youth everywhere,” said Felix Hedberg, Policy Director of Generation Ratify Virginia. “We will continue to support the AGs from Illinois and Nevada in this lawsuit. We already filed two amicus briefs to support them. Young Virginians will continue to fight until sex-based discrimination is prohibited in our Constitution.”
###
Generation Ratify Virginia is the youth-led movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
Sign up for the Blue Virginia weekly newsletter
