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Equal Rights Amendment clears House, completing first leg toward passage

Delaware Public Media

An amendment to Delaware’s constitution seeking to include protections against unequal treatment based on race reaches a key milestone.

House lawmakers passed the amendment Thursday, completing the first leg of its journey.

Since the passage of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1868, 15 states have amended their own constitutions to provide equal protection regardless of race, color or national origin.

As part of its Justice for All agenda, the Legislative Black Caucus unveiled its version adding the same protections to the Delaware State Constitution.

 

After passing the State Senate unanimously last week, the House did the same Thursday.  Following the vote, State Rep. Michael Ramone (R-Middle Valley Run) made an emotional statement about the amendment.

 

"The past few weeks our country has been faced with questions regarding systemic racism. But thoughtful self examination into racism, I’m hopeful our state and our country can better understand the root of what is actually going on in this crisis,” said Ramone.

 

Because it is a constitutional amendment, it must now gain approval from both chambers again when the next legislative session begins in January.

The amendment’s House sponsor State Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker (D-Wilmington) hopes its passage is a first step toward further progress on the Legislative Black Caucus' agenda.

 

State Sen. Darius Brown talked about some of those agenda items today.

 

"We also propose in our justice for all agenda creating an African American task force that looks at equity and invenstments in African American communities up and down the state of Delaware."

 

The agenda also includes creating a police accountability task force.

Roman Battaglia grew up in Portland, Ore, and now reports for Delaware Public Media as a Report For America corps member. He focuses on politics, elections and legislation activity at the local, county and state levels.