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Arlington County board proclaims March 2026 Women’s History Month, cites local leaders and history
Summary
A member of the Arlington County Board read a proclamation declaring March 2026 as Women’s History Month in Arlington County, citing local historical figures including Selena Norris Gray and urging residents to reject misogyny and celebrate women’s contributions.
A member of the Arlington County Board read a proclamation at the board meeting declaring March 2026 as Women’s History Month in Arlington County, citing local historical figures and urging residents to honor women’s contributions.
The board member opened with personal remarks about the challenges facing the women’s movement, saying, “When my mother and my mother-in-law tell me [the] party should not nominate a woman in 2028, it hurts,” and adding, “We’re not going to normalize misogyny. We’re not going to normalize sexism.” The speaker also quoted Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
The proclamation’s text — read aloud by the board member — cites Public Law 100-9 in recognizing the achievements and challenges of women and recalls Abigail Adams’s 1776 plea to “remember the ladies.” It highlights local history, naming Selena Norris Gray, who the proclamation says was freed in 1862, later purchased 10 acres in Green Valley and lived there until her death in 1907; the proclamation notes a public square on South Ross Street is named in her honor.
The board member also named local leaders and landmarks as sources of hope, mentioning the Ellen Bosman Government Center Building and past women leaders such as Mary Margaret Whipple, Ghazala Hashmi, Abigail Spanberger and Barbara Donellen, and noted that only 12 women have been elected in Arlington County’s history to the county board.
The proclamation further honors women’s military service and references the anniversary of the September 11 attack on the Pentagon. It affirms that county leadership is committed to creating “a gender equal world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination,” and invokes a quote from Dolores Huerta about shared humanity.
The proclamation concludes, “Now, therefore, the county board of Arlington, Virginia does hereby proclaim March 2026 as Women’s History Month in Arlington County,” and encourages residents to join in honoring history and celebrating the contributions of all who identify as women. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote on the proclamation; the text was read and presented to the board and attendees.
The presentation closed with the board member thanking the assembly for the opportunity to speak.
