Silent no more, we urge Vermonters to gather in front of the Athenaeum so passers-by may reflect on the importance of the vote for all citizens.

Join the Vermont Suffrage Centennial Alliance (VSCA) and the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum in commemorating the historic passage of the 19th Amendment. The Athenaeum will be closed during this hour to symbolize how the lack of access can affect various populations, as it was in the past with women’s voting rights.

In the final push for suffrage, women picketed in front of the White House six days a week, holding banners and using silence as protest. These Silent Sentinels, numbering approximately 2,000, protested more than 2 ½ years and faced arrest, derision, torture, and jail. 

We are encouraging participants to carry non-partisan handmade signs, sing suffrage songs, wear a 1920s hat or Votes for Women sash, engage in dialog about the importance of voting...all while observing protocols of social distancing and face coverings. Suffragists, a century ago, wore white, purple, and yellow, and a yellow rose. Sign ideas are listed below.

Ideas for signs:

      HARD WON, NOT DONE

      VOTES FOR WOMEN:  1920-2020

      AUGUST 26: WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY

      YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE

      YOUR VOICE/YOUR VOTE/YOUR DEMOCRACY

      LEARN MORE TODAY 12-1 VERMONT EDITION VPR.ORG

      I'M GLAD MY MOM CAN VOTE

      VOTES FOR WOMEN/VOTES FOR ALL

How to Participate in the Virtual Suffrage Centennial Celebration!

Come to the Athenaeum Monday-Wednesday and make your suffrage sign, then we’ll take a photo of you with your sign for our website and Facebook page!

You can also send us a selfie holding your sign! Send photos to awestfisher@stjathenaeum.org by Wednesday evening, and we’ll post the photos the day after the gathering.