Overview

Women were not given the right to vote.

They fought for it.

The struggle for women’s enfranchisement, finally achieved in 1920, took the work of three generations.  During the last 10 years of this fight, under the leadership of New Jersey’s own Alice Paul, women’s rights advocates pioneered such modern strategies of resistance as parades, protests and picketing to bring about the largest expansion of voting rights in American history — when white women finally won the right to vote, 100 years ago this summer.

Now, a century after the passage of the 19th Amendment, Women@NJPAC and Newark Council President Mildred C. Crump will bring together some of New Jersey’s groundbreaking women leaders to celebrate this legacy, which started the journey toward full voting rights for every American.  Our panelists will address the impact of race and socioeconomic status on women’s voting, remember our ancestors’ enduring spirit of resistance and honor their legacy as we continue to march, vote, and keep faith with the fight for justice.

Speakers will also discuss how vital it is that all citizens vote in November’s election – and young women who have just reached voting age will be encouraged to talk about what it means to them to cast their first ballots a century after that right was won.

Don’t miss the Virtual Women’s Equality Day Panel next week on Women’s Equality Day, hosted by NJ Women Vote.

Panelists:

Bonnie Watson Coleman

Congresswoman, 12th Congressional District, New Jersey
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Mikie Sherrill

Congresswoman, 11th Congressional District, New Jersey
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Tahesha Way

New Jersey Secretary of State
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Christie Todd Whitman

Governor (1994 - 2001)
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Moderator:

Sahar Aziz

Professor of Law and Chancellor's Social Justice Scholar, Rutgers Law School
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Introductions:

Mayor Ras Baraka

Mayor of Newark
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Mildred C. Crump

Newark Council President

Partners

Community Foundation of New Jersey
Essex County (NJ) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated
Feliciano Business School – Montclair State University
Impact100 Essex
Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey
Latina Surge National
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey
National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Bergen/Passaic Chapter
North Jersey Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
Project Ready
Rutgers University – Newark, Chancellor’s Office
Zonta Club of Essex County