Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is calling for more monuments to be created in honor of suffragists.
On Monday, Clinton participated in a Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission virtual event where prominent historical figures were discussed. The Democratic politician also posed the question of why the women mentioned are not celebrated through history.
“When we think about, OK, if we’re going to have visible physical memorials, why don’t we celebrate those women through history that moved us toward that more perfect union?” Clinton asked.
She said, “A lot of these women deserve statues.”
See Clinton’s remarks below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQLIFqr7R1w
Referring to the likes of Ida B. Wells, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Alice Paul, Clinton stressed the importance of memorializing prominent female figures in history.
“[Those women] did not live to see the result of all that labor, and sometimes you have to understand you’re in the relay race of history. You’re handing off the baton that you have taken from someone else,” Clinton said.
When asked if she felt obligated to continue the legacy of suffragists, Clinton admitted that she does. She also explained why she felt “privileged and honored” to be in the position she is in.
“I felt like I was standing in that great river of history. I felt so privileged and honored to play that role, to be there at that moment to try to link our past, present and future,” she said.
She continued, “And that’s why I get so much encouragement and truly am optimistic about this time because young people seem so energized and so committed to trying to do better and to really create more opportunities to bring everyone into the American experiment.”
Clinton’s remarks come amid months of nationwide protests for the removal of statues honoring leaders of the Confederacy who were widely remembered as advocates of slavery.
Democratic leaders like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have also advocated for the removal of Confederate statues in various states across the country.
