Julia Emory facts for kids
Julia Ridgely Emory (born May 4, 1885 – died February 1, 1979) was an American woman from Maryland. She was a dedicated suffragist. This means she worked hard to get women the right to vote. Julia led many protests in Washington, D.C., to make this happen.
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Julia Emory's Life and Fight for Voting Rights
Early Life and Education
Julia Emory was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1885. Her father, Daniel Hopper Emory, was a state senator in Maryland. He was part of the Republican Party. Her mother was also named Julia Ridgely Emory. Julia finished high school in 1902 at Western High School.
Joining the Fight for Women's Rights
Julia cared deeply about women's rights. She first joined the Women's Trade Union League. This group brought together women from different backgrounds. They worked to improve conditions for women workers.
In 1917, Julia decided to focus only on women getting the right to vote. She became very active in the National Woman's Party. She even wrote articles for their newspaper, The Suffragist.
Leading Protests and Facing Challenges
Julia started protesting at the White House and Congress in Washington, D.C. She worked with other important activists like Doris Stevens, Lucy Burns, and Alice Paul. Julia became very close friends with Alice Paul.
Even though Julia was small, she was a very strong activist. One person described her as "active, insistent, and persistent." She was arrested many times, a total of thirty-four times! Often, she was held at the Occoquan Workhouse. Her first arrest was on September 8, 1917.
Standing Strong for Freedom
In November 1917, Julia went on a hunger strike at the workhouse. This meant she refused to eat. She did this to protest how suffragists were treated. During a difficult night there, called the "Night of Terror," she held her hands up all night. She did this to show support for Lucy Burns, who was chained up.
After this, Julia became an organizer for the National Woman's Party. She helped start the "watchfires of freedom" campaign. In this campaign, activists burned copies of President Woodrow Wilson's speeches. They did this outside the White House to show their disagreement.
Julia also traveled to Maine and Pennsylvania. Her job was to convince lawmakers to support the 19th Amendment. This amendment would give women the right to vote across the entire country. In late 1919, she led protests at the Capitol. During these protests, she was hurt several times by the police.
A Legacy of Change
In 1920, the 19th Amendment was finally passed. Women across the country gained the right to vote! After this big victory, Julia Emory mostly stopped her political work. She lived a long life and passed away in 1979 at the age of 93.
