Author Luncheon with Mary Walton

ICYMI: AUTHOR LUNCHEON featuring Mary Walton

The first Author Luncheon presented by the Friends was held on held on October 6, 2021 at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club.

“The food was delicious, the ballroom beautiful, the author engaging and such fun to be with friends again,” is the feedback the Friends of the East Manatee Library at Lakewood Ranch received about the success of the event.

Retired reporter and current author, Mary Walton, took attendees back to the early 1900s and shared suffragette, Alice Paul’s story. Alice was a “mild-mannered” Quaker whose passion and dedication to equal rights was instrumental in the ratification of the 19th Amendment- the women’s right to vote.

Mary shared about Alice’s early years in London and her many degrees, including a doctorate in economics. Alice formed the National Woman’s Party which was viewed as a more aggressive organization than the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). The NAP felt that aggressive measures were needed to move President Wilson and the state governments to approve the amendment.

Mary described how Alice and her “silent sentinels” were brutalized in jail after their arrest for picketing in front of the White House. Their charge: obstructing traffic. Alice’s work did not end with the ratification, she wrote the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Introduced in Congress in 1923, it still needs ratification.

Mary Walton’s book, A Woman’s Crusade, Alice Paul and the Battle for the Ballot, provides more detail in a story format about Alice and the “silent sentinels.” Alice is featured in Iron Jawed Angels, 2004 movie with Hilary Swank playing Alice. She is also the central character in Timeless (Season 2, Episode 7)

For more information about Alice Paul visit the Alice Paul Institute website.

THANK YOU TO OUR AUTHOR LUNCHEON SPONSORS

Where HIStory meets HERstory!

Join us as acclaimed journalist and author Mary Walton shares her historic account of one woman's perseverance and self-sacrifice that resulted in the unalienable right for all women, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Luncheon and Book Signing

(books available for purchase at the event)

Safety is important for our guests. We will be following guidance from the CDC and strongly encourage all guests to wear a facial mask during the event, unless eating or drinking. We are also limiting the number of guests.