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Women’s Equality Day gathering marks 100 years of 19th Amendment
One hundred years ago on Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, allowing women the right to vote. Leading up to that moment, the women’s suffrage movement dated back to the Civil War where the country was split in two.
Fast forward to today, the Putnam County Museum, the Putnam County Public Library, the Greencastle League of Women Voters and the Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County together came together in Robe-Ann Park to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the occasion on what has come to be known as Women’s Equality Day.
They marked the occasion with a pair of LWV speakers portraying two viewpoints in the struggle that led up to the ratification of the amendment and the ongoing struggles for women’s equality.
Susan Anthony and LaToshia Everson played big parts in the celebration.
Susan Anthony, reading from a speech by Susan B. Anthony, one of the many women who pioneered the suffrage movement, said that what Susan B. Anthony did was not wrong and she should not have been arrested, but her action pushed the movement to the national stage.
Anthony has lived with her unique name since birth and has even been asked if her middle initial was “B.”
“I’m honored to have her name, but there’s that sense of obligation that comes with it,” Anthony said. “The more I read about her, the more I was impressed with her devotion to this cause and was a life well spent.”
LaToshia Everson, playing Mary Church Terrell, says the fight for women’s equality did not end when the 19th Amendment was ratified for women, but still continued for African-Americans.
“Terrell played a crucial part in helping the movement move forward and lead to the Voting Rights Act to be signed into law, allowing African-Americans and other minorities to vote,” Everson said.
Everson said she had “really big shoes to fill even for just one night” in stepping into Terrell’s shoes.
“I consider myself someone who is passionate about women’s rights, Black Lives Matter, the environment,” Everson said, “but to hear the hope and absolute conviction that she had is encouraging and enlightening and incredible and I had the great honor to do that.”
Both Anthony and Everson were asked about what they would say to young women who are of age and can vote in the upcoming election.
“Just vote,” Everson exclaimed. “Vote, vote, Vote. Vote like your life depends on it.”
“The fight isn’t over and many believe that the fight for equality is over when really it isn’t,” Anthony said. “Our rights can be taken away just as easily as they were given.”
To end the night, Karen Martoglio, member of the Greencastle LWV and Secretary for the LWV of Indiana, relayed a phrase from another member relating not just to the 100th Anniversary, but also to today’s struggles.
“The road to change lies at the ballot box,” Martoglio said.
Check out a complete video of the event below, courtesy of the Putnam County Public Library.