2021-02-16 Tue

In 1988, the Alaska Legislature declared February 16 Elizabeth Peratrovich Day. It honours a famous civil rights activist whose advocacy is considered to be instrumental to the passing of the first state/territorial anti-discrimination law in the United States.

Elizabeth, who was a mixed-race person, faced many difficulties in the Alaska neighbourhood. She and her husband, who also was of mixed Tlingit and Serbian descent, faced extensive social and racial discrimination. She fought hard for her rights and finally on 16th February 1945, the governor passed anti-discrimination law.

In 1988, the Alaska Legislature established the anniversary of the law’s signing as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day to highlight her efforts to promote equality and end discrimination. US mint also issued two commemorative coins of USD1 in her honour in the year 2020.

The design is dedicated to Elizabeth Peratrovich and Alaska’s Anti-Discrimination Law. The design features a portrait of Peratrovich, whose advocacy was considered a deciding factor in the passage of the 1945 Anti-Discrimination Law in the Alaskan state legislature. The foreground features a symbol of the Tlingit Raven moiety, of which she was a member.

Image Courtesy: www.numismaticnews.net