Los Angeles — Hollywood Can Wait. The ERA Cannot.

When Alice Burke and Nell Richardson arrived in Los Angeles on June 5, 1916, they were escorted to City Hall by a delegation of local suffrage workers and received an official welcome from the Mayor. They spent two full days in the city engaged in what they called "earnest hustling about" to spread the gospel of "Votes for Women."

They arrived looking a bit worn out — heavily sunburned and blistered from their grueling desert crossing — but remained full of enthusiasm. Nell proudly displayed a diamondback rattlesnake skin featuring nine rattles, a trophy of their journey. They attended the meeting of the Women's City Club at Blanchard Hall, loaded up the Golden Flyer with their massive amount of luggage — everything from evening gowns and fourteen day dresses to a sewing machine, typewriter, and heavy replacement car parts — and departed for Bakersfield on the morning of June 7.

One hundred and ten years later, feminist activists met the Golden Flyer II as its ERA leaders were cheered on by the mayor, elected officials, and reporters. If history repeats itself — as it often does — the ERA will indeed be the 28th Amendment, just as the 19th Amendment passed in 1920 soon after visiting California and 24 other states.

On Sunday, the Driving the Vote for Equality Tour rolled into Los Angeles — a city built on reinvention, storytelling, and stars bold enough to change the culture. But this stop was about more than Hollywood glamour. Parked outside the offices of Ms. Magazine sat a different kind of celebrity: the bright yellow 1914 Saxon Golden Flyer II, the same vintage roadster that carried suffragists Alice Burke and Nell Richardson across America in 1916 to rally support for women's voting rights. Today and tomorrow, it would help rally support for the Equal Rights Amendment.

The Tour received a special Los Angeles welcome at an event hosted by Ms. and the Feminist Majority — including several Members of Congress and comedian, television host, and legendary car enthusiast Jay Leno, who has a lifelong passion for automotive history. Standing beside the Golden Flyer II, Leno helped bridge Los Angeles's deep car culture with the Tour's larger mission of honoring the women who drove across America more than a century ago demanding equality and a voice in democracy.

More than a century later, the car returned to Los Angeles as a rolling reminder that progress never arrives all at once — it is driven forward by determined people willing to take the wheel. Surrounded by friends, family, advocates and supporters at the home of the nation's most influential feminist publications, the gathering connected the unfinished fight for equality to the powerful voices that continue to shape it today.

Kathy Spillar, today's host, opened the program by reminding people: "This has been a long battle. Feminist Majority and Ms. Magazine have been in it every step of the way. It is not over, but our goal — recognizing the ERA as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution — is now within reach. Today is an important day."

Carolyn Maloney, the founder of ERA NOW and the Tour sponsor, brought the urgency into sharp focus. "I never thought I would have more rights than my two daughters, especially since the Dobbs decision on abortion, but also since reversals on a whole host of issues — from eliminating long-standing rules on equal employment, DEI programs, key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and even celebrating Women's History Month." She continued: "We must stop the bulldozing over of our hard-fought rights and get Congress to recognize the ERA as the 28th Amendment. Once it's passed, Trump cannot veto the resolution. The president has no role in amending the Constitution."

Congresswomen Maxine Waters and Laura Friedman gave uplifting remarks, both pledging to push hard for the ERA to be included in the first 100 days package put forward by the Democrats in 2027 once they win back the House.

"Thank you, Carolyn, for keeping the flame going on the ERA. Many of us have felt tired at times, but you keep going and going — so keep pushing those of us in Congress to get the job done and get the ERA recognized. As you know, I am all in," Rep. Waters told the group.

"My mother fought for the ERA and was deeply involved in organizing South Florida during the 1970s. She founded the first chapter of NOW in Broward County, Florida, and I grew up canvassing for the ERA and abortion rights," Rep. Friedman shared — a testament to her firm and unwavering commitment.

Jay Leno closed by adding his name to the Sign4ERA petition: "I'm optimistic. Why? Because America is like a donkey: You have to hit it with a two-by-four to get its attention. But when you do get its attention, big things can change quickly. You can begin to see the sun now, on the other side of all this mess. Keep up the good work."

The momentum continued Monday morning at Los Angeles City Hall, where Mayor Karen Bass and County Supervisor Hilda Solis welcomed the Tour and the Golden Flyer II to the civic heart of the city. Their participation underscored how the legacy of the suffrage movement continues to echo through today's leadership — with women now serving at the highest levels of government in one of America's most influential cities and counties.

"I worked closely with both Mayor Bass and Supervisor Solis while we were together in Congress. These two women are the strongest and best leaders for women's rights in the country. With them on our team, we have momentum to move forward," Carolyn declared. "We are at a turning point and the ERA is within our reach — and once we have both the House and the Senate leaders who support the ERA, we will win."

"And finally, a very special thanks to my friend Hilda Solis for helping us today. This is a beautiful county park and we are your guests. A big shout out especially to her terrific staff," Carolyn added as she introduced the speakers.

"This little yellow car is an inspiration to all of us — that we must get this done, get the ERA recognized and into the Constitution," Mayor Bass declared.

"So much is at stake, we have got to do this. So many of our victories are under threat or disappearing. We are standing on some very strong shoulders — let's get this done," Supervisor Solis told the activists.

Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto shared a closing story: she was in high school when the ERA passed Congress and in college when ratifications started to slow down. "Enough is enough. Too many generations have been working on the ERA and we need to open the log jam NOW," she said.

In a city where images and words can inspire movements, the Golden Flyer II once again drew people together — not simply to admire a beautiful antique roadster, but to remember the women who used it to help change America.