HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-21 ProclamationItem Number: 3.a.
CITY OIF IOWA CITY
www.icgov.org
January 21, 2020
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
19th Amendment Centennial Commemoration proclamation
City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, in 1848 people gathered together in Seneca Falls, New York and cited
unfairness of depriving women of the right to vote; and
Whereas, the fight for women's suffrage, from the first women's rights convention to
enfranchisement, lasted more than 72 years, and
Whereas, Iowa women by the thousands advocated for the right to vote and suffragists
nationwide turned to public education and persuasion. They held conferences; campaigned;
lobbied; marched; petitioned; and suffered public distain, violent opposition, and prison; and
Whereas, suffragists pushed for a single constitutional amendment, dubbed the Susan B.
Anthony Amendment; Carrie Chapman Catt led the national movement and
Whereas, it took male allies and ultimately male legislatures to support women in their
endeavor to vote, and making it the law of the land on August 26, 1920; and
Whereas, the ratification of the 19th Amendment changed the role of women in the civic life
of our Nation and have been making their voices heard at the polls for nearly 100 years; and
Whereas, women are running for office in unprecedented numbers, many current politicians,
both male and female, remember that they follow in the footsteps of these great suffragists; and
Whereas, the centennial anniversary of the ratification of the 190h Amendment represents a
historical milestone to be celebrated: Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the City of Iowa City:
1) commemorates the 100th anniversary of the passage and ratification of the 19'h
Amendment, providing for women's suffrage, to the Constitution of the United States;
2) honors the role of the ratification of the 19`h Amendment in further promoting the core
values of our democracy as promised by the Constitution of the United States; and
Now, Therefore, 1, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim the calendar
year 2020 to be the
19' Amendment Centennial Commemoration
in Iowa City, therefore citizens of Iowa City shall enjoy the freedom of voter participation,
rnnt;n„P rn flalit for voting rights for all citizens and celebrate this imnortant milestone.
yor
Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
this 21 st day of January 2020.
CITY OIF IOWA CITY
www.icgov.org
January 21, 2020
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Religious Freedom Day proclamation
Item Number: 3.b.
City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, on this day, January 16, 2020, we commemorate the enactment of
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. Written by Thomas
Jefferson and championed by James Madison, this legislation was the forerunner to the
approach to religion and government taken by the Framers of the Constitution in 1787,
and the First Amendment in 1789; and
Whereas, today we understand that religious freedom is a fundamental American and
human right. We acknowledge that religious freedom is a cornerstone of democracy. We
declare that religious freedom is not a privilege for the few, but a right for all. We
embrace that this fundamental right applies to people of all and of no religious affiliations
or beliefs; and
Whereas, we further recognize that the Statute insists on equality as a guiding and
governing principle. It specifies that one's religious identity or lack thereof should be
neither an advantage nor a disadvantage under the law. To this end, the Virginia Statute
declared: "...all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions
in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their
civil capacities." Jefferson later said that religious freedom encompasses "the Jew and the
Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo, and infidel of every denomination";
and
Whereas, we hold that these principles are not only foundational, but remain essential
to the health and future of our democracy. To that end, these principles should guide and
inform judicial decisions, legislation and public policy making at all levels of
government.
Now, therefore, I, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby recognize January
16th as
Religious Freedom Day
and call on all people in Iowa City to commemorate the enactment of the Virginia Statute
and its role in shaping one of the highest aspirations of the American experiment:
religious freednm
yor
Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
this 21 st day of January 2020.
City of Iowa City
Proclamation
W ea on this day, January 16, 2020, we comme
Virginia Sta for Religious Freedom on January 16,
Jefferson and c6knpioned by James Madison, this legi
approach to religio and government taken by the
and the First Amendihent in 1789; and
ite'the enactment of
6. Written by Thomas
on was the forerunner to the
of the Constitution in 1787,
Whereas, today we un tand that religio freedom is a fundamental American and
human right. We acknowle a that religio eedom is a cornerstone of democracy. We
declare that religious freedom ' not a prid ege for the few, but a right for all. We
embrace that this fundamental n t app ' s to people of all and of no religious affiliations
or beliefs; and
Whereas, we further recognizeat a Statute insists on equality as a guiding and
governing principle. It specifies at one religious identity or lack thereof should be
neither an advantage nor a disa antage er the law. To this end, the Virginia Statute
declared: "...all men shall beXthe
a to profess, d by argument to maintain, their opinions
in matters of religion, and th same shall no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their
civil capacities." Jefferson ter said that religio freedom encompasses "the Jew and the
Gentile, the Christian and ahometan, the IlIndl , and infidel of every denomination";
and
Whereas, we hold tXat these principles are not only oundational, but remain essential
to the health and fu of our democracy. To that end, ese principles should guide and
inform judicial deci ions, legislation and public policy g at all levels of
government.
Now, theref e, I, Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City, do eby proclaim January
16th to be
Religious Freedom Da
and call o I people in Iowa City to commemorate the enactment o e Virginia Statute
and its ro in shaping one of the highest aspirations of the American a eriment:
religious eedom.
Mayor
Signed in Iowa City, Ioi
this 21 st day of January