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More than 100 years ago, Anthony fought for a woman’s right to vote. On Election Day, thousands are expected to show up at Susan B. Anthony’s grave to honor her battle for women’s rights and acknowledge the milestone of having a female presidential candidate. At Mt. Hope Cemetery, hundreds of women and young girls pay homage to her fight for equality by placing ‘I Voted Today’ stickers on her gravestone. The cemetery will remain open after hours to accommodate those who wish to leave messages of gratitude and hope.
Women Are Leaving ‘I Voted’ Stickers On Susan B. Anthony’s Grave, And It’s Beautiful https://t.co/3yJHRssRzb pic.twitter.com/rGqC0A8k1K
— Thought Catalog (@ThoughtCatalog) November 7, 2016
NAME: Susan B. Anthony
LIFETIME: February 15, 1820 – March 13, 1906
WHAT SHE IS KNOWN FOR: Susan B. Anthony was known for her social reform campaigns and leadership in the women’s rights movement. She partnered with Elizabeth Cady Stanton to tackle women’s suffrage.
WHY WE LOVE HER: During the time in which Anthony lived, the women’s rights movement was tied to other important campaigns of the day, such as the abolitionist and temperance movements. Because of this, women garnered more visibility in the media because they could not afford the publicity themselves. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were two of the best-known suffragists at the time.
Of the dynamic duo, Stanton said, “I forged the thunderbolts, she fired them.” Anthony helped to secure women the right to own separate property, enter into contracts and have joint guardianship of their children. She also was one of the earliest advocates of African-American citizenship, saying, “Let us open to the colored man all our schools…let us admit him into all our mechanic shops, stores, offices, and lucrative business avocations…let him rent such pew in church, and occupy such seat in the theater…Extend to him all the rights of Citizenship.”
In the 1872 election, Anthony organized a group of 50 women who would go to the polls to vote. However, she was arrested for illegally voting and was put on trial in the federal court. During the trial, the presiding judge urged the jury to deliver a guilty verdict, which they did, ordering her to pay a $100 fine. Anthony refused to pay. In turn, the judge decided that arresting her again would cause too much trouble, so he dropped the fine.
In her later years, Anthony found herself at odds with Stanton, who was becoming increasingly conservative in her views.
FUN FACT: Anthony attended numerous conventions throughout her life. At conventions rarely attended by women, she would stand up to give a speech. Every time she did this, she sparked debates as to whether or not it was appropriate for women to speak in public. She challenged this notion every chance she had.
On Election Day, we acknowledge the tenacity and courage of this suffragist as her fight for equality is actualized by candidate Hillary Clinton.
