Staff Reports

As part of its annual participation in Constitution Day, Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus plans to honor the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment by sponsoring a car parade at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

The parade is co-sponsored by the Centennial Suffrage Society, a nonpartisan group of Bartholomew County women, and the university’s Constitution Day committee.

The suffrage centennial parade will start in the university parking lot, wind its way through Columbus touring several neighborhoods and senior care facilities and end at Mill Race Park.

The lead car will be decorated to honor the first women to register to vote in Bartholomew County, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Hubbard and Fanny Davis Johnson. They were members of Second Baptist Church of Columbus at the time.

Event organizers are inviting student groups, local organizations and businesses and the general public to commemorate this event by decorating their car with flags, banners, sashes or costumes of some sort and joining the parade. U.S. suffragette colors were purple, white and gold, and yellow roses also played a symbolic role in the movement.

“Voting rights are important for all people,” said Pamela Morris of the Centennial Suffrage Society. “As our country continues to evolve as a democratic society, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure that all citizens receive and maintain their right to vote.”

Those interested should bring their decorated cars to the IUPUC parking lot no later than 12:15 p.m. Saturday or contact the Centennial Suffrage Society by emailing Pamela Morris at [email protected] or Cate Hyatt at [email protected].