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Randy Witter - ERA Fight in Illinois

Randy Witter began working as a lobbyist in the Illinois state legislature in 1974, and thus observed the legislature's yearly fight over the Equal Rights Amendment every year until June 1982, when the time limit set by the U.S. Congress expired. He gives a detailed description of the fight in 1982, sharing his memories of walking through the legislature past supporters and opponents, as well as other dramatic moments during the last year of the ERA fight in Springfield.

Interview Links

Feature Excerpt

Wearing Red or Green

Abstract

Interview Session - Audio


Photos

Caption:
Carol Burnett was in Springfield in 1978 to advocate for passage of ERA. She signed this photo of her, kneeling beside an Illinois specialty plate for ERA supporter Carol Frederick.

Where:
Unknown

When:
1978

Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.

Caption:
Betty Ford spoke at the ERA rally held in Springfield, Illinois on June 30, 1981.

Where:
Springfield, Illinois

When:
June 30, 1981

Ownership:
Photo donated by Jeri Frederick of Springfield, IL

Caption:
This photo taken by Annie Leibowitz is of the women who chained themselves to the railing outside the Illinois state Senate chamber in June 1982. The photo appeared in Life Magazine. Mary Lee is in the back row, third from the right.

Where:
Springfield, IL

When:
June 1982

Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.

Caption:
Those who chained themselves outside the IL Senate chamber on June 3, 1982 included, Pauline Kages, name unknown, Jane Olsen, Sue Yarber, Kari Alice Lynn, Mary Lee Sargent, Joyce Meyes, Alice Webber, Page Mellish, Berenice Carroll and Loretta Manning, pictured from left to right.

Where:
Springfield, IL

When:
June 3, 1982

Ownership:
Springfield State Journal Register photo. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.

Caption:
A pro-ERA activist, one of a group of women who had chained themselves to the railing outside the Illinois Senate chamber, was physically removed from the capitol by Secretary of State police at 4:00 AM on June 7th, 1982.

Where:
Springfield, IL

When:
June 7th, 1982

Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register photo. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.

Caption:
When ERA went down to defeat, ERA activists showed their disapproval by writing the names of their opponents in pigs’ blood outside the governor’s office on June 25, 1982. Pictured from left to right are Ann Casey Elder, Sue Yarber, and Mary Lee Sargent.

Where:
Springfield, IL

When:
June 25, 1982

Ownership:
Springfield State Journal-Register photo. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator

Caption:
Illinois lobbyist Randy Witter.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Circa 2018

Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.



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