Label
Council Members Moline, Gadus and Adams
Title
Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage.
Summary
WHEREAS, 2020 is the 100th Anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment in the month August; today we take this opportunity to recognize women who were important to the passage of the vote for suffrage and the women who continue to work for positive change in the Toledo area; and
WHEREAS, some notable names in the work for Women’s Suffrage include: Vadae Meekison who was an attorney and known statewide for her part in the Women’s Suffrage Movement; Eva Epstein Shaw who was an attorney who drafted the legislation creating the Domestic Relations Court for Lucas County; Olive Colton who was one of the first woman who exercised her right to vote and was a founding member of League of Women Voters; and Rosa L. Segur who was a leader in the Toledo Woman Suffrage Association; and
WHEREAS, although the 19th Amendment gave American women the right to vote, it failed to fully enfranchise African American, Hispanic American, Native American and Asian American women; and because discrimination existed even in women's suffrage organizations, great women like Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell worked to eliminate that and all forms of discrimination; and
WHEREAS, local civic leaders like Dr. Samantha P. Adams who was Toledo's first black woman doctor, first black woman elected official in Lucas County and first woman elected President of the Toledo Branch NAACP; and Ella P. Stewart who was one of the first black pharmacists in the United States, fought against discrimination and for whom a local school was named; and
WHEREAS, it was not until the height of the Civil Rights Movement when the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed prohibiting racial discrimination in voting and amended several times to expand its protections so all women have the right to vote; and
WHEREAS, women currently have the right to vote, but women are still fighting for their basic rights for equal pay and maternity leave and the rights of others; the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to negatively affect women at a higher rate, including loss of wages, loss of employment, and the necessity of women to become home school educators of our children; and
WHEREAS, during this difficult time, it has become glaringly aware that the progress over the last 100 years has been important there is still a long way to go; women need to be at the forefront of continuing to move the needle for women’s issues in the next 100 years; NOW THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That we recognize the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment and the work that continues to be accomplished by women and allies who continue to advocate for equal rights for all throughout Toledo and nationwide.
SECTION 2. That this Resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.
Adopted: _________________: yeas ______, nays ______.
Attest: _________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: ______________________ _________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of a Resolution adopted by Council ________________________.
Attest: _________________________
Clerk of Council