Today in Herstory: The Suffrage Parade is Bigger Than Ever (6 may 1911)

[niyad]

Today in Herstory: The Suffrage Parade is Bigger Than Ever

May 6, 1911: Anyone who still doubts that the woman suffrage movement is rapidly gaining support must have been a long way from New York’s Fifth Avenue earlier today.



The turnout for this year’s annual suffrage parade was unprecedented, with at last 3,000 marching from 57th Street to Union Square. That’s nearly eight marchers for every one last year. At the end of the parade, speakers addressed a friendly crowd of about 10,000, an equally stunning turnout. Reverend Antoinette Brown Blackwell, the first woman in America to be ordained a minister, turned out to be only the second oldest participant at 85. She is five years younger than the great-grandmother who came all the way from Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts to show her support for suffrage. The youngest suffragist was Sarjo Martina, one year old, a member of the “Future Voters” delegation, who was pushed along in a stroller.

The procession was headed by Inez Milholland and two women carrying a banner inscribed: “FORWARD OUT OF ERROR, LEAVE BEHIND THE NIGHT; FORWARD THROUGH THE DARKNESS, FORWARD INTO LIGHT,” from the hymn “Forward ! Be Our Watchword.” The three women were followed by Scotch bagpipers, the first of the parade’s many musicians, then several floats (a new innovation this year), and women representing many different occupations and other groups.

The National College Equal Suffrage League delegation was led by Reverend Anna Howard Shaw, who has been President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association since 1904. These marchers were among the most colorful, with all members in caps and gowns.
The marchers received a good deal of applause along the route, and large “Votes for Women” banners could be seen as the parade passed the headquarters of Alva Belmont’s Political Equality Association at 505 Fifth Avenue. Belmont herself was seen smiling as she observed the parade.

The Women’s Trade Union carried a banner reading: “WOMEN NEED VOTES TO END SWEAT SHOPS,” and the Shirtwaist Makers behind them trimmed their banner in black in memory of the victims of the recent Triangle fire.

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http://feminist.org/blog/index.php/2015/05/06/today-in-herstory-the-suffrage-parade-is-bigger-than-ever/

[AndreaCG]

1. Thank you for posting this

I loved my women's history class in HS, and wrote at least one paper about the Pankhursts.

[niyad]

2. did you ever see the pbs "shoulder to shoulder" series? amazingly enough, tnot on

dvd!! but, the entire series is available on youtube. about the british suffrage movement.

[AndreaCG]

3. Oh yes indeed

I'm that old that I saw it originally

[niyad]

4. we both did!

it still astounds/annoys me that it is not available on dvd.