Gold medal for the Peratroviches

Murkowski

Editor's note: Following is a speech by Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Oct. 6, 2004, on behalf of Senate bill 2900:

"Today, I want to share with the Senate a piece of Native history that is very significant to the Native people of Alaska and indeed, the first peoples of our entire Nation. It is the story of a Tlingit couple, Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich.

"Roy and Elizabeth are to the Native peoples of Alaska what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks are to African Americans. Everybody knows about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, but hardly anyone outside the State of Alaska knows about Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich. That is going to change today.

"Elizabeth was born in 1911, about 17 years before Dr. King. She was born in Petersburg Alaska. After college she married Roy Peratrovich, a Tlingit from Klawock, Alaska, and the couple had three children. Roy and Elizabeth moved to Juneau. They were excited about buying a new home. But they could not buy the house that they wanted because they were Native. They could not enter the stores or restaurants they wanted. Outside some of these stores and restaurants there were signs that read "No Natives Allowed." History has also recorded a sign that read "No Dogs or Indians Allowed." On Dec. 30, 1941, following the invasion of Pearl Harbor, Elizabeth and Roy wrote to Alaska's Territorial Governor: 'In the prresent emergency our Native boys are being called upon to defend our beloved country. There are no distinctions being made there. Yet when we patronized good business establishments we are told in most cases that Natives are not allowed. The proprietor of one business, an inn, does not seem to realize that our Native boys are just as willing to lay down their lives to protect the freedom he enjoys. Instead he shows his appreciation by having a 'No Natives Allowed' sign on his door.'

"In that letter Elizabeth and Roy noted: 'We were shocked when the Jews were discriminated against in Germany. Stories were told of public places having signs, 'No Jews Allowed.' All freedom loving people were horrified at what was being practiced in Germany, yet it is being practiced in our own country.'

"In 1943, the Alaska Legislature, at the behest of Roy and Elizabeth considered an anti-discrimination law. It was defeated. But Roy and Elizabeth were not defeated. Two years later, in 1945, the anti-discrimination measure was back before the Alaska Legislature. It passed the lower house, but met with stiff opposition in the Alaska Senate.

"One by one senators took to the floor to argue against the mixing of the races. A church leader testified that it would take 30 to 100 years before Alaska Natives would reach the equality of the white man.

"Elizabeth Peratrovich rose from the gallery and said she would like to be heard. She was recognized, as was the custom of the day. In a quiet, dignified and steady voice she said, 'I would not have expected that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind gentleman with 5,000 years of recorded history behind them of our Bill of Rights.'

She was asked by a senator if she thought the proposed bill would eliminate discrimination, Elizabeth Peratrovich queried in rebuttal, 'Do your laws against larceny and even murder prevent these crimes? No law will eliminate crimes but at least you legislators can assert to the world that you recognize the evil of the present situation and speak your intent to help us overcome discrimination.'

"When she finished, there was a wild burst of applause from the gallery and the Senate floor alike. The territorial Senate passed the bill by a vote of 11 to five. On Feb. 16, 1945, Alaska had an anti-discrimination law that provided all citizens of the territory of Alaska are entitled to full and equal enjoyment of public accommodations. Following passage of the anti-discrimination law, Roy and Elizabeth could be seen dancing at the Baranof Hotel, one of Juneau 's finest. They danced among people they didn't know. They danced in a place where the day before they were not welcome.

"There is an important lesson to be learned from the battles of Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich. Even in defeat, they knew that change would come from their participation in our political system. They were not discouraged by their defeat in 1943. They came back fighting and enjoyed the fruits of their victory two years later.

"Nineteen years before the United States Congress prohibited discrimination in public accommodations in the Civil Rights Act of 1964; 18 years before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of his dream on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial - Alaska had a civil rights law.

"Elizabeth would not live to see the United States adopt the same law she brought to Alaska in 1945. She passed away in 1958 at the age of 47.

"The State of Alaska has acknowledged Elizabeth Peratrovich's contribution to history by designating Feb. 16 of each year as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day. It has also designated one of the public galleries in the Alaska House of Representatives as the Elizabeth Peratrovich Gallery.

"But what about Roy ? Why has his role not been recognized? Roy Peratrovich passed away in 1989 at age 81. He died nine days before the first Elizabeth Peratrovich Day was observed in the State of Alaska . Perhaps it was because Roy was still alive at the time this honor was bestowed; it is Elizabeth that has gotten all the credit for passage of the anti-discrimination law.

"Members of the Peratrovich family tell me that this is not entirely unjustified because without Elizabeth's stirring speech the anti-discrimination law would not have passed. But they also point out, as does the historical record, that Elizabeth and Roy were a focused and effective team. History should recognize that the anti-discrimination law was enacted due to the joint efforts of Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich. I rise today to do my part toward that end. ..."