Roxcy Bolton

Bolton in 1956

Roxcy O'Neal Bolton (June 3, 1926 – May 17, 2017)[1] was an American feminist and civil and women's rights activist.[2] She was born in Duck Hill, Mississippi. In 1966, Bolton helped form Florida's National Organization for Women, serving as charter president of the Miami Chapter and National Vice President in 1969. In 1969, she successfully challenged the practice that many store restaurants had of keeping a separate "men only" section. She founded Women in Distress, a shelter for homeless women.[3]

In 1972, she encouraged President Richard Nixon to issue a proclamation honoring Women's Equality Day, which he did.[4] In 1974, she founded the nation's first Rape Treatment Center in Miami, later renamed the Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center in 1993.[5]

Bolton died on the morning of May 17, 2017 at her Coral Gables, Florida home from cardiac arrest at the age of 90.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ "Roxcy O'Neal Bolton". Florida Resident Database. Archived from the original on May 21, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Roxcy Bolton, Pioneer Feminist". Florida Memory. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  3. ↑ Buchanan, Edna (1989). "Sex". The Corpse Had a Familiar Face: Covering Miami, America's Hottest Beat. Charter. p. 173. ISBN 1-55773-284-1.
  4. ↑ Beth (August 26, 2013). "Women's Equality Day". Florida Memory. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  5. ↑ "State Library and Archives of Florida Exhibit Honors Roxcy Bolton and Women's Equality Day". Florida Department of State, Kurt S. Browning, Interim Secretary of State. July 22, 2008. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  6. ↑ Cohen, Howard; Fichtner, Margaria; Brecher, Elinor (May 17, 2017). "Civic activist, feminist, trailblazer Roxcy Bolton dies at 90". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  7. ↑ Nelson, Gary (May 17, 2017). "Florida's Pioneer Feminist Roxcy Bolton Has Died". CBS Miami. Retrieved May 17, 2017.