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Winter Solstice Radical History Walk: The East London Federation of the Suffragettes
December 12, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Winter Solstice Radical History Walk: The East London Federation of the Suffragettes
Back by popular demand – another Feminist Fightback radical history walk. This time we’ll be following in the footsteps of the East London Federation of the Suffragettes to raise money for the Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan.
Sunday 12 December, meet at 12 noon outside Bow Road tube station. Suggested donations £5 waged, £2 unwaged, £10 solidarity price.
Working-class women were central to the campaign for women’s suffrage. The East London Federation of the Suffragettes was founded by Sylvia Pankhurst in 1913 after she split with the Women’s Social and Political Union over their decision to focus on recruiting wealthy powerful women. Sylvia Pankhurst preferred to build a grassroots movement which fought not just for female enfranchisement, but for the radical transformation of society on feminist, socialist and anti-imperialist grounds. Come and find out how Pankhurst and other women living and working in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Britain fought for their rights as women and workers. Hear about how they organised mass demonstrations; fought off the police with a home-made weapon known as a ‘Saturday Night’; practised jujitsu and rifle shooting in Victoria Park; set up community kitchens and created cooperative factories.
As feminists today struggling against violence and institutionalised misogyny in the police, we have a lot to learn from the campaigns of the East London Federation of the Suffragettes. We also want to use this history of women’s resistance to state violence as an opportunity to offer solidarity to women in Afghanistan who have been fighting the vicious state violence of both Western occupying powers and the Taliban.
#radicalhistory #feministhistory #workingclasshistory
The walk takes about 2.5 to 3 hours and will finish on Old Ford Road. It does not cover a great distance but we will be on our feet most of the time. Children are welcome to attend but the walk is aimed at an adult audience. Come prepared, as the walk will go ahead whatever the weather. If you have questions about accessibility please contact us at feminist.fightback@gmail.com
cover image: WSPU membership card designed by Sylvia Pankhurst