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Leonard Jackson - ERA Fight in Illinois

Leonard 'Len' Jackson, born on April 12, 1947, in Springfield, Illinois, graduated from Girard High School in 1965. After serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 to 1968, he worked as a field representative for National Car Rental for eight years. In 1982, he became a security guard at the Illinois State Capitol for the Secretary of State. During the Equal Rights Amendment protests in June 1982, Jackson helped remove women from the Grass Roots Group of Second Class Citizens who had chained themselves outside the Senate chamber.

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Grassroots Group: "Second Class Citizens" members chained themselves together outside the Senate chambers on June 3, 1982

Grassroots Group of Second Class Citizens members chained themselves together outside the Senate chambers on June 3, 1982, forcing Senator Ken Buzbee to step over group members Marlena Williams and Pauline Kayes. The photo appeared in the Nov 25-Dec 1, 1982 issue of Illinois Times. (May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.)

Capitol security personnel carry Mary Lee Sargent (front) and Kari Alice Lynn (back) out the basement tunnel of the Capitol building.

Capitol security personnel carry Mary Lee Sargent (front) and Kari Alice Lynn (back) out the basement tunnel of the Capitol building on June 11, after the women blocked the entrance to the Governor's office. Len Jackson is carrying the head and shoulders of Sargent. (See page nine of the Nov 25-Dec 1, 1982 issue of Illinois Times. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.)

The Grassroots Group of 'Second Class Citizens’ sit-in was led by Mary Lee Sargent.

The Grassroots Group of Second Class Citizens’ sit-in was led by Mary Lee Sargent. The protesters had chained themselves to the railing outside the Illinois Senate chamber on June 3. This image appeared in the November 25-December 1, 1982 issue of Illinois Times.

The battle to pass ERA ended on this note.

The battle to pass ERA ended on this note - ERA supporters, disgusted by the IL Senate’s failure to send the issue to the Senate floor, spell out the names of their chief political opponents with pigs’ blood outside the IL Senate chamber on June 24th. (Springfield State Journal-Register photo)



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