Some of America's most prominent women were in Seneca County Saturday for the National Women's Hall of Fame induction.
“This year not only marks the 50th anniversary of the National Women’s Hall of Fame, it is also the centennial celebration of ratification of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote," said Gretchen Carlson, a journalist who helped start the #MeToo movement.
In total, 11 inductees joined the ranks of nearly 300 women who've been inducted.
2019 Inductees:
- Gloria Allred
- Angela Davis
- Sarah Deer
- Jane Fonda
- Nicole Malachowski
- Rose O’Neill
- Louise Slaughter
- Sonia Sotomayor
- Laurie Spiegel
- Diane von Furstenberg
- Flossie Wong-Staal
Longtime Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, who died last year, was among the list of women honored this year. Her granddaughter Lauren Sechatore accepted the honor.
"It was an honor to get to speak for her today, even though I’ve done nothing close to what she has done to even hold this award, it was an honor to get to speak for her," Sechatore said.
"It feels great to do this in her own backyard. My dad said he was in the back and loudest applaud from everyone working the event was for my grandmother, so I think it was lovely that it was here. She was a big supporter of Seneca Falls," she continued.
Political activist Angela Davis said she was proud to be inducted, but felt as though she didn't deserve it.
“I’m happy to accept it on behave of all of those who’ve been involved in struggles against racism, against misogyny, for the planet and I think that there are so many women especially who have helped to make this a better place to live and whose work is the foundation for a struggle for a better future," Davis said. "So I feel very humbled by all of those whose names who’ve never learned.”
Despite major accomplishments in various fields, all of the women echoed similar messages that more work needs to be done.
“There’s an enormous amount of work to be done against racism, against Islamophobia, against misogyny, to save the planet and I’m inspired especially by young people who are taking the lead," Davis said.