Remembering Alaska civil rights pioneer Elizabeth Peratrovich

Each year on February 16th, Alaska celebrates Elizabeth Peratrovich Day to commemorate her tireless -- and successful -- contribution to the effort against racial discrimination. Peratrovich is perhaps most remembered for a passionate and effective speech she made in front of Alaska's Territorial Senate in 1945 on behalf of a bill that would eventually outlaw discrimination against Alaska Natives in public places, a bigotry which was widespread at the time. The Juneau Empire reports on a re-enactment by school children of that pivotal moment in Alaska's history and includes a great deal of Peratrovich's quick-witted testimony. The Empire also features an op-ed that would probably never have been written without the pioneering efforts of Peratrovich and courageous people like her. And KCAW-FM reported on the remarks of Walter Carpenti, chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court, made in Sitka to a group of predominantly Alaska Native high school students on the eve of this year's Elizabeth Peratrovich Day. Carpenti lamented the lack of Native Alaskans in the law profession and urged his audience to consider it as a career option.