Click here to view entire resolution
SALT LAKE CITY CORPORATION
Resolution 15 of 2020
JOINT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING SALT LAKE CITY AS A
UTAH HERITAGE CITY DURING THE YEAR OF 2020
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City, Utah was the place where the first vote under a women’s suffrage law was cast and counted; and
WHEREAS, Utah is celebrating the 150th anniversary of that historic first vote cast by Seraph Young in 1870; and
WHEREAS, The Council Hall in Salt Lake City, standing at 120 E. 300 S. (now located at 300 N. State St.), was where the Utah Territorial Legislature voted in 1870 to extend voting rights to women and where two days later, Seraph Young and 24 other women cast their ballots in a municipal election; and
WHEREAS, Utah women voted for seventeen years before federal legislation revoked their suffrage, after which they organized and worked together to regain voting rights in Utah’s State Constitution; and
WHEREAS, Utah was instrumental in paving the way for women’s voting rights to spread across the United States; and
WHEREAS, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which extended voting rights to women citizens throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, this year also marks the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protected voting rights for people of color.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
that the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor of Salt Lake City designate Salt Lake City as a Utah HERitage City during the year of 2020.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
Salt Lake City celebrates Utah women who were the first to vote under an equal suffrage law; honors Utah suffragists who advanced the rights of women and promoted democratic values at the core of the United States; recognizes the women who continued to work to secure suffrage and citizenship rights for women of color and break down barriers to their political participation; acknowledges the legacy of strong, influential female trailblazers who serve in their families and communities; and encourages women to continue to participate in civic life.
Adopted this 19th day of May, 2020.