We ring the bell! Won’t you?
When the 19th Amendment was ratified in Nashville nearly 100 years ago, cities across the country rang bells in celebration — but Nashville did not. Now, the Nashville Public Library is helping us make up for that, with their “I Ring the Bell” campaign leading up to the virtual grand opening of their Votes for Women exhibit.
The League of Women Voters of Murfreesboro / Rutherford County is proud to be adding our voices to the celebration of the 19th amendment centennial – and the 100th year of the League of Women Voters in Tennessee.
Beginning at 11:30 AM Central time on August 18, NPL says this event will be “a celebration of inclusion, inspiration, and voice, featuring our special guest Rosanne Cash — singer, songwriter, author, and narrator of the PBS documentary By One Vote: Woman Suffrage in the South. This virtual experience will culminate with neighbors, universities, and other institutions citywide ringing bells, big and small.”
Learn more at library.nashville.org/research/votes-for-women
Former LWV-MRC co-president Leslie Collum rings the bell for informed citizens. Video credit: Tom Womack, Murfreesboro Photographer Laureate and WebForU2. Location: First United Methodist Church, Murfreesboro.
What cause do you ring the bell for? Join us in this campaign!
Everyone is welcome to participate! Here’s how:
Between now and August 18, shoot a cell phone video, selfie-style. In the video, tell us who you are and what cause you're ringing a bell for today – and ring an actual bell!
Share your video on social media between now and August 18.
Make sure to tag Nashville Public Library (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) and use the #IRingTheBell hashtag so others can find and share. (Please note, it’s #IRingtheBell, emphasis on the “I,” not #RingTheBell, which is used by the Philadelphia Phillies. Although if you’re ringing for them, too, that’s cool!)
Your cause can be anything: stamping out domestic violence; advocating for education opportunities; mentoring young people. As long as it matters to you, it counts.
Our state League says: “We want to be loud, and we want this act of community and solidarity to spark a conversation about how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. We want to celebrate women whose resilience and passion have over the decades paved the way for women and girls today. We want to inspire even more change for the future of our democracy.”
So ring that bell! We know some other Murfreesboro and Rutherford County women are ringing bells, and we look forward to sharing their videos soon.
Also don’t miss these other local centennial events.