ENROLLED
2018 Third Extraordinary Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 14
REPRESENTATIVES LEGER, BOUIE, GARY CARTER, DUPLESSIS, AND JIMMY
HARRIS
A RESOLUTION
To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Felicia Kahn.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Louisiana House of Representatives have learned of the death of Felicia Kahn on June 21,
2018, at the age of ninety-one; and
WHEREAS, Felicia Kahn was a political activist and social justice advocate; a
lifelong Democrat, she remained actively involved in politics and the women's rights
movement in Louisiana until her death; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Kahn was born on July 11, 1926, only six years after the nineteenth
amendment granted American women the right to vote; she grew up in New Orleans and,
after graduating from Isidore Newman School, she attended Newcomb College where she
earned a degree in sociology; and
WHEREAS, as a student, she volunteered with the League of Women Voters of New
Orleans, helping register women to vote; after graduating, she worked for the city's welfare
department and could see firsthand systemic problems stemming from segregation; she
supported the integration of the league and joined the league in lobbying for passage of the
Equal Rights Amendment; and
WHEREAS, she served as the league's president in the late 1960s and was especially
interested in expanding voter access, ensuring polls were open at daybreak so working
people could vote early; and
WHEREAS, she later became actively involved in partisan politics, helping
generations of women in politics at every level, from the U.S. Senate and the New Orleans
City Council to the Orleans Parish School Board; she was a volunteer for Moon Landrieu's
campaign for mayor of New Orleans in 1970; she also worked for Congresswoman Lindy
Boggs; and
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WHEREAS, in 1972, she worked with the National Women's Political Caucus to
encourage women to attend the Democratic convention; that same year, she won a seat on
the Democratic State Central Committee backed by Mayor Landrieu and the New Orleans
Coalition; this was among the highest offices women in New Orleans sought at the time; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Kahn joined Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign in 1976 and was
appointed to the convention's Rules Committee; later, in 2010, Ms. Kahn revived the
Independent Women's Organization, after a period of inactivity, and became its president
at age eighty-four; and
WHEREAS, her tenacity and drive were unyielding and her notable accomplishments
included being the second oldest delegate to the 2016 Democratic Convention; she missed
only one convention since 1976, often serving as a delegate; in 2016, she was awarded the
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Louisiana Democratic Party; and
WHEREAS, the many contributions Felicia Kahn made to women in politics and the
Democratic Party in New Orleans and the state of Louisiana reflect a purpose-filled life; and
WHEREAS, Felicia Kahn is survived by her children, Charles N. "Chip" Kahn, III,
Elizabeth Kahn, and Felicia Kahn Michelson; brother, Richard Schornstein; and three
grandchildren.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express condolences upon the death of Felicia Kahn
and does hereby recognize and record Ms. Kahn's major contributions to her community and
her state during a lifetime of advocacy and commitment to democracy and social justice.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of Felicia Kahn.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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