Letter from Representative Shirley Chisholm to Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Don Edwards
4/14/1971
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Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm of New York wrote this letter to Congressman Don Edwards, chairman of the subcommittee responsible for conducting hearings on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). She expresses her concern over hearings being held on the ERA, stating that she is "deeply concerned" that many groups who had asked to testify—especially groups representing young women—were not being given the opportunity.
She explains that many groups have come before her complaining that they haven't been allowed to testify, and states they she, herself, wished to testify on the opening day of hearings. She cites a disruption on March 31st by a group of women from George Washington that would not have occurred had they been allowed to testify.
She urged Edwards to "create more understanding of and sympathy for the civil rights of women."
She explains that many groups have come before her complaining that they haven't been allowed to testify, and states they she, herself, wished to testify on the opening day of hearings. She cites a disruption on March 31st by a group of women from George Washington that would not have occurred had they been allowed to testify.
She urged Edwards to "create more understanding of and sympathy for the civil rights of women."
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Full Citation: Letter from Representative Shirley Chisholm to Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Don Edwards; 4/14/1971; Legislative Bill Files of the Committee on the Judiciary for the 92nd Congress; Committee Papers, 1813 - 2011; Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Record Group 233; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/chisholm-edwards, April 20, 2024]Activities that use this document
- Equal Rights Amendment Arguments
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