Alexandria to Honor Suffragists Tortured at Occoquan Workhouse

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3. City honors suffragists' fight with new historic marker

City honors suffragists’ fight with new historic marker



The new historic marker commemorating the 32 suffragists who endured terrible conditions during the 1917 "Night of Terror." (Courtesy photo)

By Cody Mello-Klein | [e-mail]

The city and local women’s organization Alexandria Celebrates Women came together on Aug. 26 to dedicate a historic marker to the suffragists who endured brutal imprisonment during the 1917 “Night of Terror.”

The marker honors the 32 suffragists who were arrested in front of the White House during a silent protest for the right to vote. They were imprisoned at the Occoquan Workhouse in Lorton, Virginia and subjected to brutality and torture.

A hearing was later held in Alexandria, and the 32 women were eventually paroled pending appeal. Most of the women decided to serve out the rest of their sentences in the Washington District Jail. The marker, which is now part of the Alexandria Heritage Trail, is located at the intersection of Prince and South St. Asaph streets, which formerly housed the courtroom in which the suffragists were granted their release.

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