Women's Movement's Black Friday remembered, as the spirit of the Suffragettes lives on through Climate Rush

By PRSD, on Friday, November 19, 2010

Spirit of the Suffragettes: Black Friday has been commemorated and activism for political change has been celebrated in Parliament Square, London

South Devon Green Party has offered its full support to Totnes resident and Green Party member Jacqueline Baynes who with a solemn group of more than 150 women and men clad in black gathered at Parliament Square in London in rememberance of Black Friday.

This date is engraved in the memories of supporters of the Suffragette movement, and the spirit of the Suffragettes lives on through Climate Rush, an environmental activist group set up in 2008 by Tamsin Omond after she scaled Big Ben in February of that year to protest against Heathrow’s proposed third runway. Climate Rush exists to highlight the lack of democracy that environmentalism has within our political system, and Totnes served as the end point of last year’s Climate Rush march.

One-hundred years ago, 300 Suffragettes went to the Houses to demand a debate on the Conciliation Bill, a Bill that would have given some women basic voting rights. There were 6,000 police in attendance, who arrested 200 women. Two women who tried to enter Parliament were severely injured and later died. Many others were violently mistreated. After one-hundred year, fewer than one in five MPs are women. Only 1 per cent of the world’s money is controlled by women. For every 10 people displaced by climate change, seven are women.

Helen Pankhurst and Laura Pankhurst – granddaughter and great granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst led the silent procession.

Helen and Laura said: “As Sylvia Pankhurst’s granddaughter and great-granddaughter we were thrilled to hear about the vigil to the Suffragettes and the Remembering Black Friday being planned for November 18. It is especially important that this historical remembrance is being linked to a current-day cause which is not getting enough public or policy attention – namely environmental activism. While remembering our colourful past, make a difference to our future.”

They stood in vigil to remember the brave women who fought so we might vote. They stood to show solidarity with women across the world who don’t know justice.

Caroline Lucas the UK’s first elected Green MP gave a rousing heartfelt speech followed by Dr Diane Atkinson, a prominent historian. There was a respectful police presence and the rememberance passed off peacefully, although to gain access to Mrs Pankhurst’s statue many Climate Rushers had to scale locked railings to leave a wreath and candles.