March into another year with the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council! Parading has always mixed just plain fun with serious business. On July 4th we will honor the political efforts of Grand Rapids women a century ago at the same time we use their parade model to advertise the mission of the GGRWHC today. Visible ourselves, we make our forebears visible. So join in the fun with GGRWHC--and the politicians and the fire trucks and the kids on bikes!
Click here for a
picture from last year's re-enactment of Grand Rapids suffragists marching a hundred years ago.
On July 4th this year, we will be part of the noon parade through East Grand Rapids. You can use our "Votes for Women" signs, pennants, and sashes. If you can, dress in something that looks vintage--"looks" being the operative term. For women, maybe a high-collar white blouse, a white or black skirt, and a hat (nice, but not necessary); for men, as much white as you have! You can borrow a boater from us. Ideally, marchers wear white to contrast with the purple sashes. But wear what you like and join the parade. Push a stroller if you like-and plan for fun!
*** Remember: this parade isn't just for women or particular groups. Whatever the tensions in the past, recent immigrants,
ethnic minorities, and also men did march in multiple parades around the nation. This photo from 1910 shows men parading for suffrage in Grand Rapids. Help correct wrong assumptions about our history-and march!
Directions:
By 11:00: Or you can find your own way: Lake will be closed, so find Hall Street. (If you get lost, call 443-4946.)
To carpool to the staging site, participants can meet at the corner of Ogden and Argentina in EGR (outside 959 Ogden, parallel to Breton Road). We plan to have cars at each end of the parade for ferrying back and forth.
By 11:30: Line-up at Hall/Lake intersection (old Woodcliff School): look for "suffragists" and the gaudy yellow and purple GGRWHC banner!
Noon: Parade begins and will proceed from the Lake/Hall intersection, along Lake Dr, R onto Lakeside Dr., L onto Wealthy, ending at Croswell in front of the Gaslight Village D&W. The route is a little over a mile long. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome!
Afterward: Car-pooling back to Lake/Hall from cars left at 959 Ogden (or cars left nearer the ending point), unless you have made other plans. (Again, if you get separated, call 443-4946.)
Rain? Right now weather reports look good. Our paper posters will not stand up to rain, however, so watch the sky. Send queries to joellynclarey@yahoo.com or call 443-4946. Information is also posted on the GGRWHC website.
Mark your calendars! On Thursday, August 25th, the GGRWHC will celebrate Women's Equality Day with a program by former Washington Post editor Sara Fitzgerald. By filling in a missing chapter in the political history of Michigan, as well as the United States, Fitzgerald's new book, Elly Peterson: "Mother" of the Moderates, finally credits one of our first female political leaders.
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