Jazz funeral for the ERA
On July 3, 1982, New Orleans held a jazz funeral for the Equal Rights Amendment after it failed to be ratified by 38 states before the 1982 deadline. The event, called A New Day Jazz Funeral, was organized by the New Orleans ERA Task Force with support from the National Organization for Women, following NOW’s ERA march in 1981.
The procession moved through the French Quarter. It lasted about an hour and was followed by two hours of speeches. Musicians played "When the Saints Go Marching In" as marchers walked by well-known places like Arnaud’s Restaurant and The Royal Sonesta. About 500 people attended, and many wore white like suffragists; photographs showed many boys participating. The parade ended in Jackson Square, where Sue Laporte sang an original song for ERA supporters. The organizers said the funeral symbolized that life goes on with hope after a loss.
The march was sponsored by NOW, with participation from the Baton Rouge National Women’s Political Caucus, the Louisiana Lesbian and Gay Political Caucus, and other groups. Supporting organizations included the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, the NAACP, the National Council of Jewish Women, and the AFL-CIO.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:59 (CET).