Local Democrats plan to celebrate Women’s History Month by hosting a mixer Tuesday night in honor of women’s accomplishments and struggle for equality.

The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Alley Bar, 112 W. Liberty St., in downtown Ann Arbor. The Ann Arbor City Democratic Party, Washtenaw County Democratic Party and the College Democrats at the University of Michigan are co-hosting the event.

“I’m proud of the legacy of Democratic women, including Eleanor Roosevelt, who have done so much to help Americans and to promote human rights worldwide,” Anne Bannister, AACDP co-chairwoman, said in a statement. “Women’s rights are human rights, and the Democratic Party has been the champion of equality in the 20th and 21st centuries.”

Participation in the mixer is free. It begins with free snacks, while the bar features $3.50 to $5 drink specials. The Ann Arbor City Democratic Party will host a 50/50 raffle. Organizers said Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County resident have valued women in public policy positions since they elected Eunice Burns to the Ann Arbor City Council in the 1950s.

Debbie Stabenow, who became the first woman elected to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate in 2000, issued a separate statement today, joining 16 other female senators in issuing a renewed call for women's rights in North Africa and the Middle East.

“The men and women of many nations in North Africa and the Middle East have banded together to oppose oppression and unrepresentative governments," she said. "New governments arising from these movements that do not foster the full participation of women are not truly representative and are not full departures from old regimes. Women must have equal rights if new governments are to reflect the ideals of the movements that spawned them.”

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.