Sacramento landmarks to be lit purple and gold tonight in honor of women's suffrage centennial

Suffragists picketing the White House. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

Sacramento (Aug. 26, 2020) The City of Sacramento will bathe landmarks in downtown and throughout the city in purple and gold light tonight in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

The request to light the buildings was made by Mayor Pro Tem Angelique Ashby and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. It is part of a national campaign called “Forward into Light” spearheaded by the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission. The campaign is named after the historic suffrage slogan, “Forward through the darkness, forward into light.”

Sacramento City-owned facilities lit for the commemoration will include Memorial Auditorium, the bridge at Sacramento City College, the Capitol Mall and the Richards Boulevard underpass.

Memorial Auditorium lit blue to honor health care workers during Covid-19 pandemic.

Mayor Pro Tem Ashby urged Sacramentans to snap a photo in front of the Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J St., tonight and post it on social media to commemorate the suffrage centennial. The lighting follows the presentation of a resolution commemorating the centennial by Mayor Pro Tem Ashby that was adopted by the City Council on Aug. 19.

“Today, more than 68 million women vote in elections because of the courageous suffragists who never gave up the fight for equality,” she said. "Since the ratification of the 19th amendment, our work continues, as we advance the equality of women in all political, social, economic, and cultural aspects of life.”

Mayor Darrell Steinberg noted the historic nature of the suffrage centennial coinciding with the presence of the first black woman on a presidential ticket. “As the protests in our streets this year have demonstrated, much work remains to be done in this country to make sure all people, including women and people of color, have an equal voice in the governing of our country,” he said. “Today’s centennial reminds us of what can be accomplished through peaceful protest and sustained demands for change.”

Susan Bakker, President League of Women Voters for Sacramento County, said: “The League of Women Voters stands on the shoulders of so many before us who sacrificed so we may exercise our right to vote. We must continue to stand together to make democracy work, so every person has the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate in our nation's governance. We've fought for voting rights for the past 100 years and will do it for 100 more."

To learn more about this celebration nationwide please visit: https://www.womensvote100.org/