On July 27th as part of the Occoquan River Festival a new memorial will be dedicated to the 150 plus women who were imprisoned for their battle for fair and equal rights in Northern Virginia.
How appropriate in an election year that the Turning Point Plaza will be dedicated at Occoquan Regional Park at 10am. Not far from the sight where the Plaza is located is what remains of the complex where these women were housed in deplorable conditions.
The first parade to bring recognition to the women’s rights movement took place in Washington DC on March 9, 1913 with over 5000 participants marching on Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration day. In 1917 the first women arrested in our area arrived at Lorton Prison. It has been reported that they were physically abused and made to live in filthy conditions. It was the action of these women between 1916 and 1920 helped bring about the 19th amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote
The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area have been instrumental in the creation of this memorial, but they have a larger vision, a brick wall memorial to all women imprisoned for the suffrage movement, as well as a place to honor all women that have fought for women's rights. So make sure you take a moment on Sunday July 27th to stop by for this event. It is a time to once again remember how far we have come as a country and how a few dedicated women made a big difference in the lives of all of us today.
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Wow. What a wonderful memorial. It still amazes me when I hear people discussing politics and someone casually says they didn't vote. Especially if they are a woman. How can you not want to exercise that right? What a great reminder. Thanks for this blog and the heads up on my blog.