Benefit screening to celebrate Women’s Equality Day

The San Diego Film Critics Society is partnering with the San Diego. Women’s History Museum and Educational Center (SDWHM) on Aug. 30, 5 p.m. at MOPA in Balboa Park to highlight Women’s Equality Day, which is celebrated each year on August 26, in honor of the day the 19th Amendment was ratified.

In admiration of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, SDFCS will hold a benefit screening of the movie Iron Jawed Angels, a recounting of the defiant young activists who risked their own lives to help American women win the right to vote.

“Many have struggled and died to secure our precious right to vote, and we should be diligent in exercising this right in our upcoming Presidential General Election on November 4,” said San Diego

Registrar of Voters’ Deborah Seiler. Chief Deputy for Election Services, Nicole Alejandre, will attend the event and offer comments.

Midge Costanza, a former assistant to President Carter, a public affairs officer for S. D. District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis and professor of Women’s Studies, will also speak at the event.

Although Congress passed the law in 1919, amending the Constitution required ratification by at least two-thirds of the states. On Aug. 26th, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment, and women officially won the right to vote. SDWHM celebrates Women’s Equality each year with a variety of events. On Sat., Aug. 23 there will be a Suffrage March across the bridge in Balboa Park, followed by a Suffrage Ball with dancing, food, historic reenactments and a “voting” theme.

“Without the work of these courageous women, the gains that women have made, and continue to make, in the political, social and professional arenas would have been much more difficult, if not impossible,” Dr. Karen Shelby of the Women’s History Museum said. “Although we still need to see many more women political candidates and office holders at all levels, the promise of the statement that “all men and women are created equal” is ever closer to realization.”

For more information or to order tickets contact the Women’s Historical Society at (619) 233 -7963 or San Diego Film Critics Society at (619) 445-4105.