Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning released the following statement in recognition of Women’s Equality Day:
“96 years ago today, women finally received the right to vote with the passage of the 19th amendment. However, it wasn’t until 1971 that we started proclaiming this day Women’s Equality Day and began to officially recognize women have been treated as second class citizens in this country.
“This day is supposed to recognize that men and women enjoy equal rights, but this is still not the case.
“Women are still paid less on the dollar than a man for doing the same job; women are still far too often the victims of violence; and women still have to go the extra mile to have their basic healthcare needs met.
“Right here in Wisconsin we still have opposition to the idea that women deserve the full and equal rights that men enjoy. Ron Johnson has voted against equal pay legislation five times and against the reauthorization of the violence against women act, while Scott Walker and the Republican legislature revoked equal pay legislation that ensured women could correct a pay injustice in Wisconsin.
“Women’s rights activists – men and women – have worked together to ensure regardless of our gender, we are all entitled to equal rights, but it is clear there are still many road blocks that have prevented us from reaching this reality.
“We will not stop fighting for gender equality, as it is the birth right of every American that we are all treated with equality and respect under the law. We have made progress, and we will continue to do so when we turn the recognition that women deserve equality into practice.”
