User:Breano21/Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945

The Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945, also known as House Bill 14 or Equal Rights Act of 1945, outlawed discrimination in public spaces within the territory of Alaska. The bill was passed by the 17th Territorial Legislature and signed into effect on February 16, 1945. The bill was the first of its kind within the United States and its territories. It was brought into fruition through the hard work and activism of Alaskan natives and others.

Passage of the Bill
The bill was first proposed in 1943 by Governor Gruening with the support of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood. However, it failed to pass by a vote of 8-8 in the house. The bill was reproposed in 1945; this time passing with a vote of 19-5 in the house and 11-5 in the senate. The passage of the bill is often credited to Elizabeth Peratrovich, who was reported to give a heartfelt speech during the debate of the bill securing its passage.

History
Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich, members of the Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS) and Brotherhood (ANB) respectively, wrote a letter to Ernest Gruening comparing the treatment of Alaskan Native to the Jews in Germany in 1941. The letter was spurred by a sign reading "NO NATIVES ALLOWED" over a prominent Juneau inn. Unable to sway the owner, Governor Gruening felt legislation was needed to outlaw such practices. Advocated for by the ANS and ANB, the bill received support throughout the territory yet this was not enough to secure passage of the bill before the house in 1943. After the failure, Alaska Natives elected two representative to the territorial legislature, Andrew Hope and Frank Peratrovich.

In 1944, Alberta, an Alaskan Native-Irish girl from Nome, wrote an essay in the local newspaper about discrimination. The essay reflects her experience working at a local movie theater that did not allow natives to sit in certain section despite being equally paying patrons. The final straw came when she witnessed multiple Alaskan Natives being forcibly removed from the theater. The essay reignited widespread debate about the rights of Alaskan Natives. However, Alberta suffered for her activism. She was fired from her job and arrested for refusing to move from her seat at the theater. After her arrest, she become a symbol for the Alaska Native rights struggles. The following year, the Mayor of Nome reproposed the bill along with an apology for Alberta's treatment.

Impacts
Following the passage of the bill, discriminatory practices in public spaces were considered a misdemeanor and subject to 30 days in prison and/or a 250.00 dollar fine. Additionally, the bill inspired other states to pass anti-discrimination bill based on race.