Bill Text: VA HJR382 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the Charlottesville chapter of the National Organization for Women.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-07 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ382ER) [HJR382 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HJR382-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, for nearly 50 years, the Charlottesville chapter of the National Organization for Women, a voluntary nonprofit organization, has worked to secure social, political, and economic equality for all women and girls; and
WHEREAS, through its leadership, educational programs, and outreach, the Charlottesville chapter of the National Organization for Women (Charlottesville NOW) has inspired engagement of community members from Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Augusta, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, and Rockingham and from across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, through its grassroots, multi-issue, multi-strategy approach, Charlottesville NOW has led advocates to champion reproductive freedom and economic equality, fight for racial justice, denounce LGBTQ+ discrimination, and work to end violence against women, leading advocates to lobby local, state, and national lawmakers; and
WHEREAS, Charlottesville NOW provided leadership on these core priorities and many other issues through a variety of initiatives across decades and also started traditions that continue in the community to this day, including Take Back the Night and an annual feminist book drive to benefit local public libraries; and
WHEREAS, Charlottesville NOW has made a lasting impact on many lives through initiatives such as founding the Blue Ridge Abortion Fund and creating a roundtable of city, county, university, and community organization representatives to identify and publish ways to improve processing of sexual assault cases and support for victims by police, courts, and hospitals; and
WHEREAS, for the entirety of its existence, Charlottesville NOW has worked diligently to secure an amendment to the United States Constitution that will guarantee equal rights for women and girls, raising $25,000 in an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Walk-a-thon in 1982, being a leader in the successful effort to get the ERA ratified by the Commonwealth in 2020, and now continuing to push for the fully ratified Equal Rights Amendment to be incorporated into the Constitution; and
WHEREAS, Charlottesville NOW has increased awareness of women's contributions to American and Virginia history through initiatives such as writing a history of notable women from Albemarle County and getting local governments to issue annual proclamations for Women's History Month and Women's Equality Day; and
WHEREAS, during March, Women's History Month, Charlottesville NOW is recognized for its extensive history of leadership and advocacy to secure equality and justice for all women and girls; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Charlottesville chapter of the National Organization for Women for its contributions to the advancement of equal rights, equity, and recognition for women and girls of the Commonwealth; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Charlottesville chapter of the National Organization for Women as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the organization's vital mission and legacy of achievements.
