The Orbis

On Thursday, Aug. 26, Tennessee Women for Kerry-Edwards held five rallies across the state. In Nashville, the event was held on the steps to the State Capitol – the same building where Tennessee became the final state to ratify the 19^th Amendment in 1920, giving women the right to vote.

A few hundred women and men filled the East Garden of the Capitol to commemorate the anniversary of women’s voting rights and declare their support for the Kerry-Edwards ticket. In the summer of 1920, Nashville was the site of the “War of the Roses” – suffragists wore yellow roses in their lapels while anti-suffragists wore red. Eighty-four years later, Tennessee women handed out yellow roses as well as signs for Kerry.

Several local politicians and activists spoke at rallies across the state. Nashville’s speakers included everyone from Tennessee state legislators to Amy Kurland, the owner of the Bluebird Café.

Kim McMillan, the Tennessee House Majority Leader, voiced her support for the Democratic candidates. “There is a clear choice in this election for president, and that’s the ticket for John Kerry and John Edwards. They will restore balance to this country,” she said.

Brenda Gilmore, a member of Nashville’s Metro Council and an employee of Vanderbilt, was another speaker. She emphasized the unity of Democratic women for Kerry. “We are here to say that unlike year 2000, we are here together … strong women make a strong America!” she said.

Not just politicians spoke at the rally. Kurland called for Tennessee women to unite and make a difference. Nor were all the speakers women; several men added their encouragement, each sporting a yellow rose on his lapel. Jerry Lee, president of the Tennessee chapter of the AFL-CIO, applauded the efforts of Tennessee Women for Kerry-Edwards and begged the crowd to vote in the upcoming election. Voter registration forms were available at the rally.

The event was a success. “We are very excited to see this many women who are this committed to ushering in a new era for Tennessee and the United States,” said Jean Carter Wilson, co-chair of Tennessee Women for Kerry-Edwards. Democrats have secured a foothold in the state of Tennessee.

The attitude of the rally was best expressed by Commissioner Paula Flowers. She listed all the things she wanted from a change in the presidency, such as protection for women’s health and privacy rights and affordable health care. She acknowledged that her list was long, but refused to back down. “Absolutely, I want it all!” she said.

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