They were convinced that many other states would follow in Illinois’ footsteps, and ratify the amendment as well. In 1982, to fuel the ratification cause for the Equal Rights Amendment, seven women (including Sonia Johnson and Zoe Ann Nicholson) went on a hunger strike. During their hunger strike, they only drank water. This event took place at Illinois’ state capitol. The nurses union petitioned for the women who were on strike, so the women received chairs to use. Other women, whom were not on a hunger strike, chained themselves to the capitol building’s rotunda. These chained women were taken away from the building and thrown into dumpsters by the police in the middle of the night. When the deadline date arrived, the Equal Rights Amendment still needed ratifications from three states. Nevertheless, later in 1982, the amendment was reintroduced to Congress. In 1983, the amendment failed to pass in the House of Representatives; the cause lacked six needed votes. From 1985 to present day America, the Equal Rights Amendment has been introduced every single Congress session. The amendment is still not included in the