Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) urged her colleagues in the House to vote in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment on Thursday because if they don't, then they are "condoning oppression of women in the United States of America."
Tlaib said it was unacceptable for the Congress to be even debating about the ERA in the year 2020.
"I swear what’s even more interesting is what I’ve been hearing about is this obsession to control and oppress women in the United States of America. I cannot believe it’s 2020, we’re still debating the merits of the Equal Rights Amendment. It’s beyond time," Tlaib said.
"I want you all to know this is about women of color, women with disabilities, transgender women, immigrant women. These women are affected by issues like unequal pay, sexual violence, lack of access to health care and poverty, so much of what we’re doing here in trying to promote women’s equality is about gender, racial, economic justice," she continued. "So I would ask you all, know this, a no vote today condoning oppression of women in the United States of America and I urge support and I yield back the balance of my time."
Tlaib is not the only member of "The Squad" to throw support behind the ERA. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) said on Wednesday, "The year is now 2020, and here we women are still in so many ways not fully free, still shackled."
My #WCW goes out to my sisters in service who faithfully fight for #justice, #fairness & #equality every single day. We are the backbones of our families, our communities & our democracy. @EleanorNorton @RepKatiePorter @RepRashida @RepUnderwood @RepSpeier #ERANow pic.twitter.com/jqJWYZ9ZsB
— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) February 12, 2020
The House voted to remove the deadline on ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment in an attempt to revive the amendment in a 232-183 vote, according to NPR.