Celebrating Women’s Equality Day

During this week’s City Commission meeting, Mayor Teri Johnston proclaimed August 26th as Women’s Equality Day.

This month marks 100 years since the 19th Amendment, which allows women to vote, was ratified.

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy and the fundamental right upon which our civil liberties rest,” reads the proclamation.

However, it notes that the 19th Amendment did not guarantee suffrage for all women. Native Americans did not gain their right to vote until 1924. Asian Pacific Islander Americans did not gain the right until 1952. African American and Latin Americans suffered voter suppression until passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and 1975.

“The fact that today women are active in local, state and national government and are running for office in unprecedented numbers reminds us that we all follow in the footsteps of these resolute American suffragists,” it continues. “The bold, courageous and powerful women who fought for the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution on August 26,1920, deserve special celebrations.”

Commissioner Sam Kaufman noted that Mayor Johnston, who was re-elected the day before the meeting, is the first female mayor to be elected for a second term in Key West’s history.

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