#Emilymatters – Petition – Emily Davison Statue in Parliament Campaign

In a recent article Cathy Newman likened the Conservative Party’s frontbenches to “a sea of blokes in dark suits“. However, the Houses of Parliament as a whole continues to have a woeful record with regards to women’s representation.

The most recent IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union) statistics list the UK in 59th  place in the world, with women making up just 22.5% of the House of Commons. Whilst Rwanda tops the list with 63.8%.

 

 

Like it or not we live in a visual age. The campaign for a statue of Emily in Parliament is very much part of the push for more strong and intelligent women in Public life.

Out of 100 non royal statues in Parliament, only 6 are of women – a sea of blokes in bronze and stone, which provides a stark reminder of inequality in Westminster and the UK as a whole.

We want to continue Emily Davison’s powerful legacy and so invite you to add your name to the statue petition, to ensure that a statue of Emily is erected in Parliament. Please share the link and add #Emilymatters.

 

 

Emily Thornberry MP, the first Emily to be elected to Parliament, set up the Emily Davison Statue in Parliament campaign on 5th June 2013, 100 years after her brave Epsom Derby protest.

 

A sea of blokes in bronze and stone

 

As a tireless campaigner for equality, social justice and the right to vote, a statue of Emily Davison would make both a fitting tribute as well as act as a call to action: the work began by the first wave of feminism is far from over. #Emilymatters.

Emily made 3 of her most inventive protests in Parliament, including an audacious overnight occupation during the 1911 Census Night. A number of suffragettes boycotted the Census, as a form of protest. However, Emily took a different tack. By hiding in the cupboard next to St Mary Undercroft, she was able to register the Houses of Parliament as her residence that night, making a claim on behalf of all women, to the same political rights as men.

On 13 February 2014, my play about Emily Davison, TO FREEDOM’S CAUSE, will be performed in Parliament as part of a special Emily Davison Statue in Parliament Campaign event.

Kate Willoughby
Actor & Writer of To Freedom’s Cause

 

Special Parliamentary Performance & Debate Details: 

The debate:

Jane Garvey, BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour presenter will chair the debate. Whilst the panel includes Dr Helen Pankhurst, great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst, Yas Necati, feminist campaigner and winner of The Guardian Women awards 2013: Best hope for the future (UK) and Emma Barnett (writer and broadcaster).

 

The play:
Brian Astbury directs an exclusive presentation of To Freedom’s Cause – a new play about one of the nation’s most important suffragettes – as part of a special Parliamentary event to promote the Emily Wilding Davison statue campaign.

 

This is the powerful story of people who encountered Emily,
who changed her life and whose lives she changed

 

Sign up:
Emily Davison is one of our most important feminist icons. Her legacy continues through current campaigns such as No More Page 3 and the Everyday Sexism Project. Sign the petition in support of the campaign calling for a statue of Emily to be erected in Parliament:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/51269

 

Get involved:
Due to the location restrictions, this is an invitation only event.

A small number of tickets will be made available via Twitter.

Emily Davison was a pioneer in using modern media to promote direct political action. She believed that women and men had the right to be equal citizens.

Join the conversation now by following @2FCPlay and using #Emilymatters

 

 

  Emily Davison’s legacy is for life, not just for 2013.