MN CAFE

Minnesota Costitutional Amendement For Equality Coalition (MN CAFE Coalition)

MN CAFE Coalition started in 2009, by Kathleen Murphy to push for an equal rights amendment to be placed on the ballot in 2010 and added to the Minnesota Constitution. 

At that time there was a pro-ERA majority in the House and Senate and things looked promising.   The campaign kicked off on August 26, 2009 - Women's Equality Day.  Senator Mark Dayton as the honored guest to speak to it's importance and continued need.

In April 2010, an ERA bill was heard before the Senate Judiciary committee.  (see testimony video clips HERE).  However, the House, under the leadership of Rep. Joe Mullery, would not put it forward in committee.  The thought from DFL leadership at the time, was that having an Equal Rights Amendment on the ballot would unknowingly influence who came out to vote. 

MN CAFE continued to work for equality through 2013 as MN CAFE.  In 2014, Betty Folliard picked up the torch and established ERA MN as the next re-incarnation in the fight for an Equal Rights Amendment in Minnesota.