100 Years and Counting
As America faces a Presidential Election in one of the most divisive times in our country it’s not uncommon to recall elections past. The legal right to Vote has been at the forefront of what our country stands for since its inception. A democracy proudly and patriotically created by the people for the people now finds itself in a tug o war with those elected to power and their reluctancy to give that power up . Democracy isn’t easy and the fight to keep it never ending. The seed of democracy is voting, it’s the foundation of a free and fair election and the only tool the people have to ensure their freedoms. Voting has never been easy; free and fair is debatable.
In 1776 as America was officially being born, voting rights were reserved for white men who owned land. In 1789 when George Washington, America’s first president, was elected, only 6% of the population could legally vote. Generations of women and men often refer to the Women’s Suffrage movement as a time when women ‘suffered’ from inequality. While its true women did and do suffer from inequality, the word ‘suffrage’ actually comes from latin ‘Suffragium’ which means ‘voting tablet’, ‘a ballot’, ‘a vote’, and ‘right to vote’. The suffragists weren’t a fad of the 1900’s, women as far back as the 1840’s rallied for equality, which included the right to vote.
From the very first gathering dedicated to Women’s Rights in the United States July 19–20th 1848 in Seneca Falls NY, the ‘suffragists’ and their movement to gain women the right to vote was unwavering, though far from trouble free. We don’t often hear of the dark sinister truths of their 72 year fight and sacrifices to gain equality for all women.
While the movement lost momentum during the Civil War, in 1869 women regrouped and the National Woman Suffrage Association was founded by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Along with Susan B. Anthony they trudged forward seeking an amendment to the constitution granting women nationwide the right to vote.
In 1870 the 15th Amendment was ratified and granted persons the right to vote regardless of race, yet women remained on the sidelines. In 1872 Susan B. Anthony boldy attempted to vote and was promptly arrested and brought to trial in Rochester NY for her horrid act. The same day Sojourner Truth arrived at a polling booth in Grand Rapids MI and was quickly turned away, neither one giving up on their desire to have the same rights as men.
In 1890 Wyoming was admitted to statehood and became the first state in the union to legislate voting rights for women in their state’s constitution, yet others didn’t feel the need to follow suit. The first time women marched on Washington D.C., was in 1913, the night before Woodrow Wilson’s Inauguration. Resulting in mass beatings, harassment and hospitalizations caused by the brutality of onlookers while the police did nothing to prevent nor stop the mayhem.
Let us not forget the harrowing ‘Night of Terror’ in 1917. While again picketing outside the White House for their right to vote, November 10th 1917, suffragists were clubbed and arrested. Locked up at the Occoquan Workhouse they were beaten and tortured by the guards for days. Male guards handcuffed Lucy Burns hands to the bars above her head and forced her to stand in her cell like this all night, into the next day. Dora Lewis was thrown into a darkened cell and her head smashed against an iron bed rendering her unconscious. Her cell mate Alice Cosu was so convinced she was dead, that she suffered a heart attack and was denied medical care until the next day.
The superintendent of the workhouse, W.H. Whittaker had ordered the beatings and when the public began to show support of releasing these suffragists, he called in the Marines to guard the compound.
Alice Paul who had been arrested numerous times for demonstrating, was taken to a D.C jail where she went on a hunger strike. They force fed her twice a day with a tube they shoved down her throat against her will and resulted in her vomiting repeatedly over the course of her stay.
These protests, demonstrations and advocacy continued through the decades, eventually landing women a piece of equality on August 18th 1920. As we stand on the shoulders of these great women and bask in the rewards of their sacrifices let us not lose site of what matters most, being counted.
Voter suppression is still a very real thing and has again peaked across the nation, from the refusal to supply voting machines with proper electrical cords in Georgia to electronic machines changing votes in Texas as they are cast, our greatest freedom has again come under fire. From mail sorting machines being dismantled and hauled away to the ever present blue mail boxes on the corners of America’s streets, we must remain vigilant in our quest to be counted.
100 years ago doesn’t seem that far away when we again find ourselves in the midst of oppression by the very people we placed in charge. This is not just a President issue, nor is it just congressional issue, it’s an American issue and we the people mustn’t waver in our commitment to a free democracy.
Celebrate these 100 years of equality like the millions of women before you and VOTE!
