Voters Approve Equal Rights Amendment to NY Constitution
NEW YORK – In response to voters ratifying the New York State Equal Rights Amendment, or Prop 1, the New York Civil Liberties Union offered the following statement attributable to Executive Director Donna Lieberman:
“Tonight, New Yorkers stood up for women and LGBT, immigrant, and disabled New Yorkers by approving the most progressive and comprehensive state Equal Rights Amendment in the country. With this vote, New York enshrines the right to abortion in the New York State Constitution and expands anti-discrimination protections to those who have been excluded for far too long.
“This vote is a rejection of a regressive national movement to roll-back our hard-won freedoms that has gained in other states. New Yorkers resoundingly said ‘hell no, not here’ to abortion bans and attacks on immigrants and trans people. What’s more, New Yorkers strengthened our rights and freedoms in the face of a multi-million-dollar opposition campaign financed by right-wing, anti-abortion, out-of-state billionaires who peddled fear and lies.
“Tonight’s victory is due in large part to the broad coalition of advocates, state and local officials, and concerned New Yorkers who knocked doors, made calls, rallied, and reached out to friends and neighbors to defend our freedoms.
“No matter what happens in the rest of the country, New York is moving forward. In New York, equality and inclusion are now the law of the land.”
