III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 561 

Designating February 16, 2024, as ‘‘National Elizabeth Peratrovich Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 13 (legislative day, FEBRUARY 12), 2024 

Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself and Ms. MURKOWSKI) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating February 16, 2024, as ‘‘National Elizabeth 

Peratrovich Day’’. 

Whereas Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich, Tlingit, was a 

member of the Lukaaxl.a ́di clan in the Raven moiety 

with the Tlingit name of Klaaxlgal.aat (referred to in 

this preamble as ‘‘Elizabeth’’) who fought for social 

equality, civil liberties, and respect for Alaska Native and 

Native American communities; 

Whereas Elizabeth, who was born in 1911 in Petersburg, 

Alaska, experienced discrimination as a Tlingit woman, 

and dedicated her life to creating a better future for 

Alaska Natives; 

Whereas, more than 6,000 patriotic Alaska Natives protected 

the United States alongside non-Native Servicemen and 


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•SRES 561 ATS 

women during World War II, despite suffering from unjust discrimination; 

Whereas, in 1941, Elizabeth and her husband, Roy 

Peratrovich, moved to Juneau, the capital city of Alaska, 

to campaign tirelessly for the passage of the anti-discrimination legislation of Ernest Gruening, the Governor 

of Alaska, which would later result in the passage of the 

Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945; 

Whereas, in campaigning for the passage of anti-discrimination legislation, Elizabeth persevered for several years 

traveling across the Alaska Territory enabling, rallying, 

and uniting Alaska Natives to fight for recognition that 

they are created equal to others and equally endowed 

with ‘‘unalienable Rights’’; 

Whereas Elizabeth was a powerful orator who envisioned 

unity and then spoke it into existence through community 

advocacy and the support of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood; 

Whereas Elizabeth testified strongly before the Alaska Territorial legislature vote on the Anti-Discrimination Act of 

1945, passionately asking the legislature, ‘‘Have you 

eliminated larceny or murder by passing a law against it? 

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.’’; 

Whereas the Alaska Territorial Legislature passed the AntiDiscrimination Act of 1945 on February 16, 1945, which 

was the first anti-discrimination law enacted in the history of the United States; 


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Whereas Elizabeth dedicated the rest of her life to creating 

a better Alaska for future generations; 

Whereas Elizabeth tragically died of cancer in 1958, but her 

legacy has not been forgotten; 

Whereas, beginning in 1988, the State of Alaska has recognized February 16 as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day; and 

Whereas, in 2020, the United States Mint released the Elizabeth Peratrovich $1 coin to commemorate the significant 

impact that Elizabeth had on advancing equality under 

the law in the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates February 16, 2024, as ‘‘National 

3 Elizabeth Peratrovich Day’’; 

4 (2) calls on the people of the United States to 

5 observe National Elizabeth Peratrovich Day by re6 membering the work of Elizabeth Wanamaker 

7 Peratrovich and other civil rights leaders; and 

8 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

9 and Members of Congress to commemorate the life 

10 and civil rights advocacy of Elizabeth Wanamaker 

11 Peratrovich by continuing the important work of en12 suring equality for Alaska Natives and Native Amer13 icans. 

Æ 


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