Veronica Shoemaker was the first black candidate to run for a seat on the Fort Myers City Council. She lost that and two subsequent elections because of at-large voting—where everyone in every ward voted for all of the candidates. In 1979, in conjunction with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and others, Shoemaker filed a class action suit against the city. The suit claimed that the city’s electoral process unconstitutionally deprived black voters of their right to effective political participation. Candidates were nominated from all of the city’s five wards but were elected by a citywide majority, which allowed white voting blocs to determine the election outcomes.

 

“No force is more powerful than that of Americans making a difference in their communities. Across our country, citizens like Veronica Shoemaker have dedicated their careers to opening doors of opportunities for others. Their work reminds us of our charge to empower others and to build a brighter day for our children and grandchildren.”

—Barack Hussein Obama
^{44th President of the United States of America}

Veronica Shoemaker
^{Former City Councilwoman}

Veronica Shoemaker was raised in a home on a dirt road in Dunbar. At one time in her life, she had to ensure she was literally on the other side of the tracks before dark. It was the law.

Ms. Shoemaker became an active member of her community, as an advocate for civil and human rights.

“It took fighting every week, every month, every day, to take control of the political process. After 17 long years of knocking on doors and running for public office, my victory opened the doors for other blacks. It gave them incentive, initiative, and dedication to the political process that controls our livelihoods, our children, and our homes—our very lives.

Blacks have learned that the answer isn’t through throwing the brick but through casting the ballot.”