| R 128 |
| 2025 -- S 0597 Enacted 03/04/2025 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| RECOGNIZING MARCH 8, 2025, AS "INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY", AND THE MONTH OF MARCH AS "WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH", IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Senators Urso, Ujifusa, Felag, Tikoian, LaMountain, Euer, E Morgan, Lawson, Rogers, and Paolino |
| Date Introduced: March 04, 2025 |
| WHEREAS, International Women’s Day is a global observance of the social, economic, |
| cultural and political achievements of women, marking a call to action to accelerate gender |
| equality, and to honor the contributions of women worldwide; and |
| WHEREAS, International Women’s Day was launched in Western Europe in 1911, as a |
| day to rally for the rights of women to work, to vote, to be trained and to hold public office, and |
| to end discrimination against women; and |
| WHEREAS, International Women’s Day was recognized by the United Nations in 1975, |
| and has since become an annual occasion to uplift and empower women and girls, to honor their |
| achievements and to safeguard their futures, to promote and lobby for women’s equality and |
| rights, and to showcase organizations that prioritize the well-being of women; and |
| WHEREAS, In 2025, we celebrate the 114th observance of International Women’s Day, |
| adopting the annual theme “Accelerate Action,” and a call to step forward in solidarity to help |
| accelerate equality for the 4 billion women and girls in the world, 170 million of whom comprise |
| half the population of the United States; and |
| WHEREAS, In 2025, we continue the fight for equal pay for women in the United States, |
| to end discrimination, violence, and oppression against women and girls worldwide, to pursue |
| policies that protect the health and human rights of women, and to promote the participation of |
| women in every aspect of government, business, the U.S. Military, society and community; and |
| WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island, one of the original 13 colonies, founded on |
| principles of diversity and soul liberty, the first to declare independence from Great Britain, and |
| the birthplace of American Industry, counts among its earliest settlers two independent woman, |
| Mary Dyer and Anne Hutchinson, key figures in the history of religious tolerance in the New |
| World; and, |
| WHEREAS, Prior to European contact, the land to become known as Rhode Island was |
| home to three powerful 17th century female sachems of the Indigenous Tribes: Weetamoo of the |
| Pocasset Wampanoag, Awashonks of the Sakonnet, and Quaiapen of the Narragansett; and, |
| WHEREAS, Throughout our history, the State of Rhode Island has been enriched by the |
| legacies of many of its female citizens, among them: |
| (1) In the 18th century, Hannah Wilkinson Slater of Pawtucket, the wife of Samuel |
| Slater, who was granted the first U.S. Patent awarded to a woman in the United States for her |
| invention of 2-ply cotton sewing thread, thereby launching the thread manufacturing industry in |
| Pawtucket, and who co-founded the first Sunday School in America, and founded a Beneficent |
| Society for Women in Rhode Island; and |
| (2) In the 19th century, Kady Brownell of Providence, who served as color bearer under |
| Colonel Ambrose Burnside in the 1st Rhode Island Infantry in the Civil War, participating in the |
| First Battle of Bull Run in 1861, and reenlisting into the 5th RI Infantry at the Battle of New Bern |
| in 1862, and who was the only female ever to receive discharge papers from the Union Army; and |
| (3) In the 20th century, Isabelle Florence Ahearn O’Neill of Woonsocket, the first woman |
| to serve in the Rhode Island General Assembly, having been elected to the House in 1922, and |
| the Senate in 1930, the first women to hold a leadership position in this Chamber, who |
| championed the hiring of women in law enforcement, prohibiting gender discrimination in the |
| teaching profession, formally recognizing women’s cosmetology professions, and protecting |
| women through the creation of life estates in the homes of their husbands; and |
| WHEREAS, The theme for 2025 Women’s History Month is “Moving Forward |
| Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” which beckons us to carry forward the |
| lessons and experiences of the women who came before us and who serve as examples of the |
| potential of women to serve their communities with dignity, intellect and resolve, earning the |
| respect of all citizens; and |
| WHEREAS, Women’s History Month was recognized in 1987, having advanced from |
| the original national celebration of Women’s History Week, so declared by Congress in March |
| 1981; and |
| WHEREAS, The Rhode Island State Senate, with 17 women among its 38 current |
| members, desires to carry forward these traditions, and to encourage all citizens to learn about the |
| contributions of women to the history of our state and nation, and to encourage those who seek to |
| make their own history as leaders who chart a path forward for the betterment of all citizens; now, |
| therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby recognizes March 8, |
| 2025 as “International Women’s Day” and the month of March as “Women’s History Month” in |
| the State of Rhode Island; and, be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel J. McKee, Governor of |
| the State of Rhode Island. |
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| LC002227 |
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