A celebration of women gaining the right to vote 105 years ago will take place in Mendocino on Sunday.
For decades, suffragists across the country fought for the right for women to vote, ushering in the monumental passing of the 19th Amendment on Aug. 18, 1920. It was added to the Constitution on Aug. 26.
However, the right to vote remained unavailable for many Black, Asian, Latino and Native American women. The amendment did not eliminate discrimination based on race or ethnicity.
While not perfect upon its adoption, the 19th Amendment helped build a foundation for modern nationwide political organizing and showed how citizens could engage with the federal government to make constitutional changes.
It served as a steppingstone for the civil rights movement, which ultimately led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, prohibiting voting discrimination based on race.
The celebration starts at noon with a parade of women in period costumes marching through the streets of Mendocino.
The parade ends at the Kelley House Museum, with speakers California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Mendocino County Poet Laureate Devreaux Baker, Xa Kako Dile Executive Director U’ilani Moore-Wesley, Fort Bragg City Councilmember Tess Albin-Smith, and Santa Rosa City Councilmember Natalie Rogers. The Mendocino Women’s Choir will also perform.
The 105th anniversary celebration of the 19th Amendment takes place Sunday at noon at the Kelley House Museum, 45007 Albion St., Mendocino.