Katharine A. Morey

Katharine A. Morey was an American Suffragist, Silent Sentinel, officer of the Massachusetts State Branch of the National Woman's Party, and a member of the NWP Advisory Council.[1] She and Lucy Burns were the first two American women to be arrested in front of the White House for the cause of women's suffrage.[2][3][4]

Katharine A. Morey
Katharine A Morey [ca. 1915-1916 September 30]
Born
Brookline, Mass.
Known forSuffragist
Parent
  • Suffragist Agnes H. Morey (mother)

In 1917, Morey joined with other National Women's Party picketers protesting outside the White House, in Washington, D.C. The picketers were known as "Silent Sentinels." The protests were organized to pressure U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to use his influence to move the 19th Amendment forward in Congress. Over the course of several months, picketers endured inclement weather, and attacks by mobs.

On June 22, Morey and fellow suffragist Lucy Burns were picketing Pennsylvania Avenue, when they were surrounded by police who demanded they turn over their sign, which read, "‘We shall fight for the things we have always carried nearest our hearts – for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their Government.’ President Wilson’s War Message, April 2, 1917."[3] The two women refused to relinquish their pickets, knowing they would be arrested. Morey and Burns were sentenced for blocking traffic. Morey served three days in jail.[5] Later that year, after picketing the White House on Nov. 10, 1917, she was sentenced to 30 days at District Jail and Occoquan Workhouse.[6]

In February 1919, she was arrested in Boston, Massachusetts, after protesting against a parade held in honor of President Woodrow Wilson's visit at the Massachusetts State House. She was sentenced to and served eight days at the Charles St. Jail.[7]

Morey was also known for speaking at the "Suffrage Special" speaking tour of 1916.[8][9]

Personal life

Morey's mother, Agnes H. Morey, was also a suffragist activist.[10]

References
  1. "Mrs. Agnes H. Morey of Boston, Mass". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 2018-08-05.
  2. "The Boston Protest of 1919 -". 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  3. "Today in Herstory: Suffragists Arrested, Detained for Protesting Outside White House". feminist.org. June 22, 2015. Retrieved 2018-08-05.
  4. "Katharine A. Morey | Turning Point Suffragist Memorial". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  5. "Miss Katharine Morey, Massachusetts state chairman for the National Woman's Party, who is in charge of introducing the Woman's Party Bill for Equal Rights at the present session of the Legislature which convened January 3rd". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 2018-08-05.
  6. "Here are just a few horrible things women went through for voting rights". Timeline. 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2018-08-05.
  7. "Massachusetts and the 19th Amendment (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  8. "Miss Katharine Morey, Massachusetts state chairman for the National Woman's Party, who is in charge of introducing the Woman's Party Bill for Equal Rights at the present session of the Legislature which convened January 3rd". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 2018-08-05.
  9. "Utah women were on front lines of suffrage battles". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-08-05.
  10. "Katharine A. Morey | Turning Point Suffragist Memorial". suffragistmemorial.org. Retrieved 2018-08-05.

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