Workers Revolutionary Party - Walking in the shoes of the suffragettes

The News Line: News Monday, 7 March 2016 Walking in the shoes of the suffragettes

HELEN PANKHURST, great-granddaughter of suffragette founder, Emmeline (centre left, in hat) next to RACHEL HOLMES (centre, author of ‘Eleanor Marx: A Life’) with the crowd at the ‘Walk in Her Shoes’ rally

LEADING stars, joined crowds at a rally and march yesterday morning, led by two generations of the historic suffragette Pankhurst family in London on Mother’s Day.

Crowds joined CARE International’s Walk In Her Shoes event led by Helen Pankhurst, her 21-year old daughter Laura Pankhurst, music legend Annie Lennox, Bianca Jagger, comedian Bridget Christie, and Sohpie Walker and a group of ‘Olympic’ suffragettes in Edwardian clothing with banners. The event ended with live music from Sister Sledge.

Dr Helen Pankhurst, great-granddaughter of suffragette founder Emmeline hosted the annual event to launch CARE International’s nationwide campaign, Walk In Her Shoes.
Sylvia Pankhurst, Emmeline’s daughter, in 1906 started to work full-time with the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) with her sister and her mother.

She went on to found the newspaper of the Workers Socialist Federation, Women’s Dreadnought, which subsequently became the Workers’ Dreadnought. The WSF supported the Russian Revolution and hosted the inaugural meeting of the Communist Party. Workers’ Dreadnought published Pankhurst’s ‘A Constitution for British Soviets’ at this meeting.

It highlighted: ‘In order that mothers and those who are organisers of the family life of the community may be adequately represented, and may take their due part in the management of society, a system of household Soviets shall be built up.’

In attendance yesterday were ‘Suffragette’ actress Romola Garai, director Sarah Gavron and producer Faye Ward, comedian Bridget Christie and activists from around the world – many of whom brought their mums and children.

They were joined by London’s very own 21st century ‘Olympic Suffragettes’, who walked in traditional Edwardian costume to highlight the fact that the Suffragettes’ goal of equal rights remains unrealised.