MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Clarke, Cockerham, Bain, Bell (65th), Burnett, Chism, Currie, Ford (73rd), Foster, Gibbs (72nd), Harness, Holloway, Mangold, McCray, Mickens, Morgan, Porter, Smith, Yates
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CELEBRATING MARCH 22, 2020, AS THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RATIFICATION OF THE NINETEENTH AMENDMENT IN MISSISSIPPI, CELEBRATING AUGUST 26, 2020, AS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NINETEENTH AMENDMENT BEING ADDED TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, AND REAFFIRMING MISSISSIPPI'S COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING AND UPLIFTING THE VOICES OF WOMEN ACROSS THIS GREAT MAGNOLIA STATE.
WHEREAS, August 26, 2020, marks the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment becoming law throughout the United States of America, granting women the right to vote; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi women fought long and hard for the right to vote, both locally and nationally, before it was granted, and they continually persevered in the face of resistance; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi was not one of the 36 states whose support allowed the Nineteenth Amendment to become law; instead, the state rejected ratification of the proposed amendment in March 1920 when the Senate ratified it but the House defeated it, making Mississippi one of the 10 states that initially declined to ratify; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Legislature finally ratified the Nineteenth Amendment with no opposition on March 22, 1984; and
WHEREAS, the national battle for women's suffrage, from the first women's rights convention to enfranchisement, lasted 72 years, and during that time, women from all walks of life, political views and demographic backgrounds asked for the right to voice their opinions at the polls; and
WHEREAS, thousands of Mississippi women passionately advocated for the right to vote in the streets, in newspapers and in the state and federal capitols; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi native Nellie Nugent Somerville accepted a Vice Presidency in the National American Woman Suffrage Association to assist national female leaders in organizing the final push for Congressional approval of the amendment; and
WHEREAS, Nellie Nugent Somerville, Belle Kearney, Lily Wilkinson Thompson, Pauline Orr and others led the state-wide movement, meeting with political leaders to secure their support for suffrage; and
WHEREAS, in the South and in Mississippi, African-American women leaders were barred from state suffrage organizations because of the racism of many people of their generation; and
WHEREAS, daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters of the women who fought so hard to vote have been making their voices heard at the polls for nearly 100 years; and
WHEREAS, currently, women are running for office in unprecedented numbers, following in the footsteps of great suffragists; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association was empowered by the slogan "Women's Suffrage Yesterday, Today and Forever," and Mississippi still embodies that principle today; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the historic landmarks of our nation's history, and the women's right to vote is one such landmark that should be celebrated and remembered:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby celebrate March 22, 2020, as the 36th Anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in Mississippi, celebrate August 26, 2020, as the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment being added to the United States Constitution, and reaffirm Mississippi's commitment to empowering and uplifting the voices of women across this great Magnolia State, and we urge all citizens to reflect on the great women and men who tirelessly fought for women's suffrage.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.