FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2021
Contact: Fredie Kay
fredie.kay@suffrage100ma.org
** MEDIA ADVISORY **
Massachusetts Women’s Legislative Caucus Chairs Sen. Lovely and Rep. Haddad to join advocates to commemorate anniversary of 19th Amendment on Women’s Equality Day
MassDOT to light Zakim, Longfellow, Fore River and Burns Bridges purple to mark occasion
- WHAT: Women’s Equality Day 2021 — Voting Access: The Work Continues!
- WHEN: Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 12 p.m.
- WHERE: Boston Public Garden near the Swan Boats and streaming on Facebook Live
- WHO: Suffrage100MA Founder and President Fredie Kay, Esq. and speakers including
- Rep. Patricia Haddad, Co-Chair, Mass. Caucus of Women Legislators
- Sen. Joan Lovely, Co-Chair, Mass. Caucus of Women Legislators
- Alexandra Valdez, Executive Director, Women’s Advancement
- Elizabeth Foster-Nolan, President, League of Women Voters of MA
- Beth Huang, Executive Director, MA Voter Table
- Katrina Huff-Lamond, Vice President, Suffrage100MA & Town Councilor, Randolph, MA
- WHY: August 26, 1920 is the day that the 19th Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution after a 70+ years long battle for the vote for women. Unfortunately, other laws prevented African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and others from voting. We gather to both commemorate this important history and recommit ourselves to building on it.
MUSEUM PANELS
During the program, Ida B. Wells, Carrie Chapman Catt and Maud Wood Park will be recognized with Suffrage Museum Panels created in partnership with the Commonwealth Museum.
MASSDOT BRIDGE LIGHTING
In honor of Women’s Equality Day, MassDOT will illuminate the following bridges purple on the evening of August 26:
-
Zakim Bridge (Boston)
-
Longfellow Bridge (Boston/Cambridge)
-
Fore River Bridge (Quincy/Weymouth)
-
Burns Bridge (Worcester/Shrewsbury)
“Sen. Lovely, Rep. Haddad and our other distinguished speakers are tireless champions for women and voting rights and we couldn’t be more excited to commemorate Women’s Equality Day and honor the legacy of three suffragists whose voices were critical in passing the 19th Amendment,” said Suffrage100MA Founder and President Fredie Kay, Esq.
“While the 19th Amendment represented a major expansion in voting rights, it would take decades longer to expand the franchise to African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and others — and even today we continue to see efforts to make it more challenging to register and exercise the right to vote. As we honor the past, we look forward to recommitting to the advocacy needed to ensure everyone can make their voice heard at the polls.”
##
Suffrage100MA is dedicated to commemorating the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1920, prohibiting the federal and state governments from denying citizens the right to vote on the basis of sex.
Suffrage100MA presents events and activities that highlight the history of the women’s suffrage movement and women’s rights.
Suffrage100MA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization that partners and collaborates with many organizations in Massachusetts and throughout the country that are also planning events to recognize this historic occasion.
