The Santa Fe County Commission just unanimously approved the attached “Proclamation Proclaiming August 2020 as 'Women's Suffrage Month' in Celebration, Recognition and Honor of the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
Amid very touching tributes to the importance of the women’s vote and appreciation for women serving in government, we mentioned the two events below and the upcoming deadline to join women from around the state in wearing white and holding signs or wearing sashes that encourage voting.
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Celebrate the centennial by joining women from around the state in wearing white and holding signs or wearing sashes that encourage voting. Pose on your porch or front yard, or “parade” safely (with mask and social distancing) on your street. Contribute photos by July 31 to https://bit.ly/2XuP8Os
Aug 23 | Women’s Vote Centennial Car Parade in Santa Fe, 2-3 pm Meet in PERA parking lot across from Capitol at 2 pm sharp. Proceed north on Santa Fe Trail toward Plaza. Take right on San Francisco, left on Cathedral Place, left on Palace, right on Lincoln past City Hall, left at Federal Court Building, left on Grant Ave passing Santa Fe County Headquarters on right and Nina Otero Warren’s House at 135 Grant Ave, which was just renamed the Otero-Bergere House to recognize significant role in getting women the vote . Honk twice and then wend your way back home. Suffrage history: https://www.womensvote100.org/the-suff-buffs-blog/2020/6/24/suffrage-in-spanish-hispanic-women-and-the-fight-for-the-19th-amendment-in-new-mexico Santa Fe County’s new headquarters is on the land where Senator Catron lived. |
Aug 26 | Women’s Vote Centennial Celebration, 4-7pm, online. The program will broadcast on GOV-TV [Channel 16] and Albuquerque's YouTube Channel. https://www.cabq.gov/culturalservices/the-womens-vote Sign up on Facebook and check back later for the YouTube link. https://www.facebook.com/events/2433123916980590/ |
More information below and in the summer La Palabra coming soon:
This Zoom discussion on NM’s suffrage movement includes the roles of long-term US Senator T. B. Catron (R-NM) in opposing women’s voting rights and US Senator A.A. Jones (D-NM) in promoting the suffrage amendment first introduced in 1878, women’s rights, equal representation, the ERA, and more.
See photo below.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/new-mexico-and-the-19th-amendment.htm
http://suffrageandthemedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Santa-Fe-New-Mexican.jpg
Suffrage campaign; New Mexico, deputation to Senator Catron - 1915. 1915.001.145 National Woman's Party Photograph Collection |
https://www.nps.gov/articles/20-suffragists-to-know-for-2020.htm
Nina Otero Warren is one of the top 20 suffragists
The League successfully nominated Nina Otero Warren and her home at 135 Grant Avenue for inclusion in the National Votes for Women Trail, which commemorates those who were instrumental in women gaining the right to vote in the United States. In 1915, Otero Warren was in New York, where she began working with Alice Paul, leader of the Congressional Union, to fight for women’s suffrage. Because of her passion, commitment, and powerful lobbying efforts, Otero Warren quickly rose in the ranks of the New Mexico chapter of the Congressional Union, and by 1917 she was asked to be the state leader. Alice Paul had recognized the importance of having a native New Mexican leading the suffrage movement. With her social and political connections and her leadership skills, Otero Warren was able to rally support from both the Spanish- and English-speaking communities.
Her bilingual and bicultural skills helped her bridge the differences between the Hispanics and the white, English-speaking population of New Mexico. She was instrumental in overcoming the opposition to women’s suffrage by church leaders and many Hispanic males, successfully persuading legislators to support women’s suffrage. She was the only woman allowed in a three-hour caucus of Republican legislators during the two-day special session Governor Larrazolo called to consider ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. On February 21, 1920, New Mexico became the 32nd of 36 states required for ratification.
On August 26, 1920, the required 36 states had ratified 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, and 27 million women voters were eligible to vote for the presidential election of 1920! Women’s Equality Day came 72 years after the first Women’s Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls, and another 72 years after the Declaration of Independence declared all men are created equal This feat was the largest expansion of democracy in America and in world history. "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
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On November 2, 1920, NM women joined women across the nation in voting for president! The United States will celebrate the centennial of Women’s Equality Day on August 26, 2020, in myriad ways due to the pandemic. On November 3, more women candidates are expected to win elections than ever before. We may even elect a female vice president for the first time in American history.
Thank you for being part of getting out the vote and the centennial celebration !
Meredith Machen
League of Women Voters of New Mexico
Empowering Voters - Defending Democracy