E.R.A. Yes March on Springfield

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The ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) Yes March on Springfield took place on May 16, 1976, in Springfield, Illinois. Organized by NOW (National Organization for Women) and supported by feminist and civil rights groups, over 16,000 attended to draw attention to the ERA. Men and women marched to the Illinois State Capitol to urge ratification, which Congress had passed in 1972 but still needed approval from more states, including Illinois. Illinois was a key battleground, and the march was among the largest in state history. Notable feminist leaders like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem spoke on gender equality. Though Illinois did not ratify the ERA in 1976, the march boosted activism and remains a significant women's rights event. As of 2025, the ERA has not been added to the Constitution since the 1982 deadline lapsed. Virginia’s ratification in 2020 came too late, fueling debate over its validity and the potential to still add the amendment.