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To celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8), ERA Minnesota (ERAMN) held a press conference to deliver “Minnesotans for Equality” Petition to MN Senate leadership demanding they allow Minnesotans to vote for Equal Rights Amendment in Minnesota on November ballot. (Petition is still open.) We heard from MN Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve, ERAMN executive director Suzann Willhite, ERAMN Founder Betty Folliard and several legislators: Senator Kunesch, Senator Pappas, Senator Dibble, Senator Chuck Wiger and Representative Bahner.

And then delivered the “Minnesotans for Equality” Petition to Senate leadership: Senator Jeremy Miller (R, 28), Senator Warren Limmer (R, 34) and Andrew Mathews (R, 15) Contact them to demand they allow Minnesotans to vote for Equality on November ballot.

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Women's March MN (WMM) hosts ERA Minnesota (ERAMN) on KFAI’s International Women’s Day programming on March 8 from 6-7pm. Please tune in at 90.3fm in the Twin Cities or online around the world.

WMM board member Ann Treacy hosts the conversion on ERA Minnesota and making gender rights part of Minnesota constitution. First joined by MNERA president, Suzann Willhite, we talk about the history and the need for Equal Rights Amendment in Minnesota and in the US. Many people believe the gender is a protected class in the constitution – it is not. And until it is we are not equally represented or protected. We’ll talk about what needs to happen to make it happen and then speak with Representative Hornstein and Representation Bahner about the bills they have introduced to get it done. Finally, we’ll hear from folks on the street (or from a Zoom) on what passing of the ERA would mean to them.

We also hear music from Minnesota musicians: Dessa, Kashimana, Nora Montenez Patterson (borrowed with permission from Sue Scott and the Island of Discarded Women) and Kiss the Tiger.

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In 2021, more than 360 voter suppression bills were introduced in 47 states in the U.S., including in MN. These laws aim to make it harder for people to vote, and they particularly impact communities of color.

Join us next Thursday (MN State Capitol, 6-7pm) on the first anniversary of the Jan 6 failed rightwing coup attempt, to rally in defense of democracy and call on lawmakers to preserve, protect and strengthen our right to vote. Join us as we demand that Congress pass the Freedom to Vote Act, John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Protecting our Democracy Act.

This event is part of a nationwide day of action focused on democracy and is being organized by a number of different MN Indivisible groups.

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Women’s March MN is pleased to join with ERA Minnesota and others to host ERA Rally @ the Capitol on January 31, which is the first day of our 2022 Minnesota state legislative session. We are inviting ERA bill authors and supporters to speak in the Capitol rotunda on why the ERA is foundational to providing equality for all persons. People are invited to participate in the rally and then advocate for equality by meeting with their legislators. We will be following all recommended Covid safety protocols.

Please help build the momentum by saving the date and spreading the word!

• WHAT: Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Rally

• WHEN: January 31, 2022 - 11 am to 12 noon

• WHERE: MN State Capitol Rotunda

• WHY: Organize, educate & activate for an Equal Rights Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution and support the enactment of the 28th Amendment to the US Constitution

• RSVP: Info@eramn.org

Get more information on finding/contacting your legislators. Remember to wear green!

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The March in Minneapolis was not the only march that happened to lift up Reproductive Freedom in Minnesota this month. There were marches all over Minnesota. If you hosted or attended a March outside of Minneapolis, we’d like to hear from you! We’d love to feature your story and/or pictures here on the website.

We have a couple of questions to get your started, but feel free to send more or less.

• What was the event like? (March/speakers/rally in a park…)

• Time and location please?

• Did you have any speakers, performers, planners or partners you’d like to highlight?

• How many people showed up?

• Anything you’d like us to add?

And feel free to send pictures – just email us at Admin Committee admin@womensmarchmn.com.

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Thank you to our partners UnRestrict Minnesota, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and 11 others, the 200 volunteers, and an estimated 10,000 people who marched with us in Minneapolis Saturday, October 2, 2021 for #BansOffOuBodies: March for Reproductive Freedom. We joined more than 650 marches across the country to demand an end to the dangerous, escalating attacks on reproductive healthcare in this country. The magnitude of the response demonstrates what surveys have already indicated, that 74 percent of Minnesotans support to access abortion without restrictions.
(photo credit Anne Hodson 2021)

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Thank you to the volunteers, speakers, performers, planners, partners and attendees who made the #BansoffourBodies March for Reproductive Justice such a success. If you have photos share please post them on the Women’s March Facebook Page. (Photos below courtesy of Anne Hodson.)

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BansOffOurBodies: A March for Reproductive Freedom is happening on Saturday, October 2 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The planners are pleased to announce performers for the program in Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Loring Park. (Speakers were announced earlier this week.)

• Performers at the Sculpture Garden include Unlawful Assembly and Katy Vernon.

• Performers at Loring Park include Rachel Kurtz, Mae Simpson, Lenora Elaine, Mikko Blaze, Zon Legacy Phoenix and The Insomniac.

The march to Loring Park will begin at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at 11:00; the rally will start around noon when attendees reach Loring Park. BansOffOurBodies: A March for Reproductive Freedom is organized and hosted by Women’s March Minnesota (WMM), Unrestrict Minnesota, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund, and more than 25 other groups. Please register for the event online.

All are welcome to attend and masks are required to keep everyone safe. The 1/2 mile route (map) is fully accessible and there will be a small accessible seating section with chairs in front of the stage in Loring Park.

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In response to the Minnesota Supreme Court recently ruling that Minnesota law doesn’t consider a rape victim “mentally incapacitated” if they consumed alcohol or drugs voluntarily, Madisyn Priestley and Kenna Groschen organized a Women’s Rights protest. Hundreds of young people showed up and told their stories of sexual violence, abuse and harassment. The stories were heartbreaking but the love and support was palpable. I applaud the brave women who shared their stories and their poetry.

One line that struck me, “I only control my body until its inconvenient to some man.” We need to change that. Women can no longer be asked to adhere to certain standards (don’t drink, don’t wear yoga pants in the grade school, don’t wear too much make up…) because men are not asked to adhere to standards like – don’t rape.

Want to see a change? Contact your legislators. Tell them to pass HF707/SF1683.

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