Remembering Alice Paul

Today we celebrate what would be the 131st birthday of Alice Paul. She was a huge influencer for me personally, and a tremendous influence on American Society.

In fact, many of the processes implemented at New Politics and New Ideas/New Politics Nation (NPNI), are based on her methods and ideas. The same methods that allowed her to accomplish so much in her life.

To summarize, for those of you who don’t know who she is, I have put together a brief about her. This summation comes courtesy of the Alice Paul Institute, along with some additonal content curated via NPNI.

ALICE PAUL (1885-1977)

Alice Paul was an American suffragist, feminist, and women's rights activist. She was the main leader and strategist of the campaign in the 1910's for the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits sexual discrimination in the right to vote.

Along with Lucy Burns and others, Paul strategized the events, such as the Silent Sentinels, which led the successful campaign that resulted in its passage in 1920.

Alice Paul was the architect of some of the most outstanding political achievements on behalf of women in the 20th century. Born on January 11, 1885 to Quaker parents in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, Alice Paul dedicated her life to the single cause of securing equal rights for all women.

Few individuals have had as much impact on American history as has Alice Paul. Her life symbolizes the long struggle for justice in the United States and around the world. Her vision was the ordinary notion that women and men should be equal partners in society.

Alice Paul Quotes:

"There will never be a new world order until women are a part of it."

"I always feel the movement is a sort of mosaic."

"We women of America tell you that America is not a democracy. Twenty million women are denied the right to vote."

"It is better, as far as getting the vote is concerned, I believe, to have a small, united group than an immense debating society."

"Food simply isn't important to me."

"When you put your hand to the plow, you can't put it down until you get to the end of the row."

SOURCES:
Alice Paul Institute: alicepaul.org
New Politics Nation: news.npni.org