Which Alaska Native woman championed and fought for the Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act?

• A. Sarah Palin
• B. Elizabeth Fry
• C. Elizabeth Peratrovich
• D. Zoe Ashby

Answer: (C)

Civil rights in Alaska during the mid-20th century hinged on turning moral appeals into laws that protected everyone in public spaces. Elizabeth Peratrovich stands out for her leadership in pushing for a statewide anti-discrimination measure that would ban unequal treatment in places like hotels, theaters, and stores. As a Alaska Native woman and a prominent advocate, she spoke publicly and testified before the territorial legislature, highlighting how discrimination harmed families and communities. Her efforts, along with those of her supporters, helped persuade lawmakers to pass the Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act in 1945, a landmark move that made Alaska one of the first jurisdictions in the United States to enact such protections.

This is why she is the best answer: her advocacy and witness helped transform prejudice into a formal law, laying an important foundation for civil rights in Alaska. The other names are notable for different reasons or eras, but they are not the figures associated with this particular act and moment in Alaska’s history.