The City of Salina Human Relations Commission and the Community Relations Division plan to recognize and honor Women’s Equality Day at Monday’s Salina City Commission meeting.
The Human Relations Commission and the Community Relations Division are scheduled to present a request to the city commission to proclaim August 26 Women’s Equality Day in Salina.
The proclamation request and reading are scheduled for the city commission’s regular meeting, which is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash Street.
Following is the text of the proclamation.
PROCLAMATION
Declaring August 26, 2019 Women’s Equality Day
WHEREAS, Nearly one century ago, with boundless courage and relentless commitment, dedicated women who had marched, advocated, and organized for the right to cast a vote finally saw their efforts rewarded on August 26, 1920, when the 19th Amendment was certified and the right to vote was secured; and
WHEREAS, The fight for women’s suffrage did not end with the passage of the 19th Amendment. Women of Color were increasingly marginalized during and after the women’s suffrage movement. Women of Color would struggle another 45 years, until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, to see the right to vote; and
WHEREAS, In the decades that followed, this precious right has bolstered generations of women and empowered them to stand up, speak out, and steer our country in a more equal direction. Today, as we celebrate the hard-won achievements of such courageous women and pay tribute to the civil rights activists who moved us closer to a more just and prosperous future, we resolve to protect these constitutional rights and pledge to fight for intersectional women’s equality; and
WHEREAS, At every level of society, women are leaders at the forefront of progress. Serving as judges, city council members and Members of Congress, founding groundbreaking companies, fighting on the front lines of combat, and setting world records in sports such as Salina’s very own Adrianna Franch, a Person of Color who is a part of the World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Soccer team. Wonderful women like Adrianna continue to tear down barriers and shatter glass ceilings — just as they have done over the course of our Nation’s history. But, there is still work to be done to ensure women’s equality in our country by defeating societal biases. Yet, such progress is not inevitable, and we must keep moving forward on our journey toward equality; and
WHEREAS, No woman should earn less than a man for doing the same job — equal pay for equal work should be a fundamental principle of our economy and our democracy. Women make up roughly half of our workforce, and society needs to invest more in affordable, high-quality childcare and strengthen paid sick, maternity, and family leave — too many families are forced to make difficult choices between caring for a newborn and receiving a paycheck, or staying home to help a sick child or parent and keeping their job. And we must continue striving for fairness and opportunity when it comes to improving workplace policies, because we know that when women succeed, our economy and our country succeed; and
WHEREAS, Ensuring all women can live full and healthy lives is vital to their pursuit of personal and professional goals. But there is still more we can do to reduce discrimination when every person should be able to live and reach for their dreams free from fear of violence.: In America, nearly one in four women has suffered physical domestic violence and transgender women often face escalated levels of discrimination and violence. These are cruelties which deprive victims of their autonomy, liberty, and security, and inhibit them from reaching their full potential; and
WHEREAS, Underrepresented in management positions, underfunded as entrepreneurs, under-encouraged in STEM fields, and confronted with higher levels of unemployment, women and girls of color still face very real challenges, significant opportunity gaps, and structural barriers. We must increase programming and promote opportunities for women and girls of color so they can achieve success at school, at work, and in their communities. We must build ladders of opportunity for women in our community; and
WHEREAS, In the many decades since suffragists organized and mobilized, countless advocates and leaders have picked up the mantle and moved our Nation and our world forward. Today, young women in America grow up knowing an historic truth — that not only can they cast a vote, but they can also run for office and help shape the very democracy that once left them out. For these women, and for generations of women to come, we must keep building a more equal America; and
WHEREAS, On Women’s Equality Day, as we recognize the accomplishments that so many women fought so hard to achieve, we rededicate ourselves to tackling the challenges that remain and expanding opportunity for women and girls in Salina.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Trent W. Davis, Mayor of the City of Salina, do hereby proclaim August 26, 2019, Women’s Equality Day, and I urge the citizens of Salina to eliminate
prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the people of Salina and Saline County.
The mission of the Community Relations Division, which is a part of the Community and Development Services Department, is to eliminate discrimination and to establish equality and justice for people in Salina through civil rights enforcement, advocacy and education.