WHEN ATTORNEY ALAN MARTIN LED A
GROUP OF 14 OF LOMBARD'S MOST
PROMINENT WOMEN TO LOCAL POLLING
PLACES AND DEMANDED THEY BE
ALLOWED TO VOTE.
AT THE TIME, VOTING IN ILLINOIS
WAS RESTRICTED TO MEN ONLY.
BUT A LOOPHOLE AT A TOWN'S
CHARTER OMITTED ANY MENTION OF
GENDER.
>> SHE MARCHES IN AND SHE
DEMANDED HER RIGHT TO VOTE.
ONE MAN FELL INTO A BED OF
FLOUR.
ONE MAN THEY SAID WAS TAKEN WITH
A SPASM.
THEY WERE SO SHOCKED A WOMAN
WOULD DARE SAY ANYTHING.
REPORTER: THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TODAY RECOGNIZED MARTIN AS PART
OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
RATIFICATION OF THE 19TH
AMENDMENT, WHICH GUARANTEED
WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE SUSAN B
ANTHONY AMENDMENT.
ARRESTED IN 1872 FOR THE CRIME
OF CASTING A BALLOT AS A WOMAN.
ANTHONY WAS SYMBOLICALLY
PARDONED TODAY BY PRESIDENT
TRUMP.
>> THE FACT THAT SHE HAD NOT
BEEN PARDONED SOONER, THAT NO
ONE HAD THOUGHT ABOUT IT IS KIND
OF CRAZY.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE STILL HAVE
VOTER SUPPRESSION TODAY.
SO THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT MORE
THAN JUST WOMEN HAVING THE RIGHT
TO VOTE.
IT IS ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THE
RIGHT TO VOTE.
REPORTER: EVEN AFTER WOMEN WERE
GRANTED THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN
1920, MOST BLACK WOMEN WOULD
WAIT NEARLY FIVE DECADES MORE TO
EXERCISE THAT RIGHT WITH THE
GENDER GAP LARGER THAN EVER,
THEIR VOTES ARE EXPECTED TO BE
CRUCIAL TO THE OUTCOME OF THE
2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
>> THERE IS MUCH THAT REMAINS TO
BE DONE AS WE ADVOCATE FOR
VOTING RIGHTS FOR IMPROVING
ELECTIONS, FOR CONTROLLING MONEY
AND POLITICS, REDISTRICTING, AND
VOTING BY MAIL.
REPORTER: BECAUSE HISTORY DOES
NOT RECORD WHERE IN LAW BYRD
ELLEN MARTIN AND THE OTHERS CAST
THEIR VOTES, THEY UNVEILED TODAY
WILL STAND HERE ON MAP
