Proclamation in Honor of the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution

 

Whereas, the bold, courageous and powerful women who fought for the right to vote and the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution on August 18, 1920, deserve special celebration by the Town of Scituate, Massachusetts, especially on the 100th anniversary of its ratification in 2020; and

 

Whereas, Massachusetts was the eighth state to ratify the 19th Amendment on June 25, 1919; and

 

Whereas, Massachusetts holds a special place in women’s suffrage history as thousands of Massachusetts women advocated for the right to vote on the streets, in the newspapers, in the state capital and throughout the great state; and as Massachusetts was the home of many suffrage leaders, national suffrage organizations, and the national suffragist paper, Woman’s Journal; and

 

Whereas, Scituate, Massachusetts, holds a special place in women’s suffrage history as many nationally recognized suffragists spent summers in Scituate during the suffrage movement; and as summer resident Inez Haynes Irwin, who became a year round resident, co-founded the College Equal Suffrage League and wrote the history of the National Woman’s Party; and

 

Whereas, the fact that today women are active in local, state and national governments and are running for office in unprecedented numbers reminds us that we all follow in the footsteps of these resolute American suffragists; and

 

Whereas, the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution has played an important role in advancing the rights of all women and improving our democracy;

 

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Scituate, Massachusetts, hereby recommends that residents and civic institutions:

• celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, providing for women's suffrage;

• honor the role of the ratification in promoting the core values of our democracy embodied in the United States Constitution;

• learn about and commemorate the efforts of the women's suffrage movement and the role of women in our democracy;

• learn about Scituate’s role in the women’s suffrage movement; and

• continue to strengthen democratic participation and to inspire future generations to cherish and preserve the historic precedent established under the 19th Amendment.

 

Adopted by order of the Board of Selectmen, Town of Scituate, Massachusetts, this 18th day of August, 2020.