Honoring Alaska’s proud Civil Rights past

A decade before Rosa Parks’ action Dec. 1, 1955, sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the actions of a Tlingit woman were a catalyst for the passage of Alaska’s Anti-Discrimination Act, signed Feb. 16, 1945, by Territorial Gov. Ernest Gruening.

The Alaska Legislature and Gov. Steve Cowper set aside Feb. 16 as Annual Elizabeth Peratrovich Day to pay respect to her place in state history.

Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich lived in Klawock before moving to Juneau in 1941 for better housing, conveniences and access to the public school system. In Juneau, they found a home to lease in a nice neighborhood, but when the owners realized the couple was Tlingit, the lease wasn’t granted.

When the couple realized the full extent of discrimination and hatred that existed toward Alaska Native people, they took action, writing a letter to Gruening and signing it using their titles as presidents of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood Grand Camp. Later that year, Gruening introduced a bill to make discrimination an illegal matter in Alaska, but it was defeated.

It was Nome Mayor Edward Anderson who reintroduced the anti-discrimination bill in 1945. The bill passed the House by a vote of 19 to 5 with little debate. But in the Senate, debate was long and senators violently opposed the anti-discrimination bill.

“Far from being brought closer together, which will result from this bill, the races should be kept further apart. Who are these people, barely out of savagery, who want to associate with us whites with 5,000 years of recorded civilization behind us?” asked Sen. Allen Shattuck.

After two hours of listening from the gallery to such comments, Elizabeth Peratrovich asked to speak. She began by addressing Shattuck’s statement. In this modern age where political debate is often flavored by rancor and vitriol, we recall with admiration the grace and power of her words.

“I would not have expected that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind gentlemen with 5,000 years of recorded civilization behind them of our Bill or Rights,” she said.

She continued by detailing discrimination her family had faced in housing and education since moving to Juneau.

And when some in the senate said laws making discrimination illegal would not end discrimination, Elizabeth Peratrovich used a question of her own to aim the bright light of truth at the issue.

“Do your laws against larceny and even murder prevent those crimes? No law will eliminate crimes, but at least you as legislators can assert to the world that you recognize the evil of the present situation and speak your intent to help us overcome discrimination,” she said.

Today we join with Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell and U.S. Sens Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich in formally pausing to remember her and pledge to work to continue her efforts to achieve equality and justice for all Alaskans.

We are proud of Alaska’s history as a leader in the struggle for Civil Rights and proud of Elizabeth Peratrovich, who showed us all that there is great power in peaceful, dignified words.