Declaring Philadelphia "the City of Sisterly Love" for 2020 in tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution recognizing women's suffrage.

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia was founded and named in 1862 by William Penn to serve as the capital of the Pennsylvania Colony; and

WHEREAS, The City’s moniker as the “City of Brotherly Love” comes from a literal translation of the Greek words

philos

(meaning beloved, dear, or loving) and

adelphos

(meaning brother, brotherly); and

WHEREAS, On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, recognizing that women and men share equal responsibility in the governing of this democracy by granting women a Constitutional right to vote in democratic elections after nearly a century of protest by the women’s suffrage movement; and

WHEREAS, The rights established by the 19th Amendment did not initially extend to women of African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American heritage due to widespread sexism, enduring inequality, and racism. It wasn’t until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, passed on August 6, 1965, that black women and other women of color were actually allowed to exercise their right to vote; and

WHEREAS, Certain elements in the federal government have taken steps to limit or revoke key provisions in the Voting Rights Act, such as the provision requiring states with a history of discrimination to get federal permission before changing voting rules; and

WHEREAS, This year, the nation and the City of Philadelphia celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage, all whilst remembering that we are a mere 55 years from a time when women of color were still effectively prevented from exercising their right to vote; and

WHEREAS, The equal participation of women in politics and government is essential to building strong communities and a vibrant democracy that takes into consideration all facets of life, the workforce, family, and community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby declares Philadelphia “the City of Sisterly Love” for 2020 in tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution recognizing women’s suffrage.

End