Commissions Participate in Susan B. Anthony Plaque Rededication and Women's Equality Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 22, 2014

For more information, please contact:

Cathi Crabtree, Chair, City of Bloomington's Commission on the Status of Women, 812.272.1600

Efrat Feferman, Chair, Monroe County Women's Commission, 812.606.8103

Commissions Participate in Susan B. Anthony Plaque Rededication and Women's Equality Day

Bloomington, Ind. - The City of Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women (BCSW) and the Monroe County Women's Commission (MCWC) invite the community to a ceremony in honor of Women's Equality Day, at which a plaque commemorating Susan B. Anthony's historic visit to Bloomington in 1887 will be rededicated. The plaque was removed for building renovations earlier this year. The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 26th from 5 to 5:30 p.m. at the Redmen Building, 116 N. Walnut St.

Susan B Anthony (1820-1906) is one of the best-known historical figures in the fight for women's right to vote in the United States. Anthony visited Bloomington a number of times, twice in 1870 and then in November of 1887, which is the visit commemorated by the historical marker. Activist and community leader Maud Showers, of the Showers Furniture Company, invited Anthony to speak at the First General Convention of Women in Monroe County in 1887. Her speech took place at the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church, located on the east side of the Courthouse Square, where the Redmen Building currently sits.

BCSW and MCWC chairpersons, along with local historian Glenda Murray, will speak about Susan B. Anthony and Women's Equality Day. The day marks the women's suffrage movement hard-fought victory in ratifying the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote. Proclamations in honor of Women's Equality Day by the City of Bloomington and Monroe County will be on display. In addition, lemonade will be served beginning at 4:45 p.m. by Eden and Ivy, winners of the Best Tasting Lemonade award at this year's Lemonade Day.

"It is remarkable to reflect on how recently in the span of our history women were disenfranchised citizens, with no voice in their representative government. We must not take for granted that an equal and just society requires persistent vigilance, courage, and hard work, " said Efrat Feferman, who chairs the Monroe County Women's Commission. "Bloomington and Monroe County are proud of their role in this historic struggle."

The text on the plaque is as follows:

In commemoration of

Susan B. Anthony's speech at

the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church

(once located here)

November 10-11, 1887.

Susan B. Anthony was a champion for women's suffrage

and a key advocate for women's rights.

Her Bloomington speech was delivered to the

First General Convention of Women in Monroe County

Due to her and others' work in the suffrage movement,

Women were granted the right to vote in 1920 by

the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

"Suffrage is the pivotal right." Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)

Dedicated November 2012

By the Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women

and the Monroe County Women's Commission

About the Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women:

The Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women (BCSW) was founded by the City of Bloomington in 1974. The Commission identifies needs, resources and gaps in resources for women and monitors federal, state and local policies and their impact on women. In addition, the Commission issues reports on data and recommendations pertaining to the status of women in Bloomington and Monroe County. The Commission also hosts an annual Women's History Month luncheon honoring the Woman of the Year and Emerging Leader, organizes an annual Leadership Development Conference, and provides leadership scholarships and other benefits to women.

About the Monroe County Women's Commission:

The Monroe County Women's Commission was founded in 2011 and is the first County Women's Commission in the state of Indiana. The primary duties of the Commission are to serve in an advisory role to assist residents, businesses and the Monroe County government in addressing issues of gender inequality in all aspects of society, including government, the economy, education, employment, social and family development, health care, the justice system, the arts, as well as land use and planning.

For more information, please contact Sue Owens at owenss@bloomington.in.gov

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