The Fascinating Story of the Fight for Women's Suffrage in the United States

In celebration of the 99th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex, Encore Learning, Arlington Public Library, and Arlington League of Women Voters will present a screening of the HBO original movie "Iron Jawed Angels."

Hilary Swank plays Alice Paul, an American feminist who risks her life to fight for women's suffrage. She goes on to write the first equal rights amendment to be presented before Congress. Paul and Lucy Burns struggle against conservative forces in order to pass the 19th amendment to the Constitution. The suffragists organize a parade on President Woodrow Wilson's inauguration day. Significant tension exists between the new suffragists and the old-guard suffrage organization led by Carrie Chapman Catt. The activists get arrested and go on a well-publicized hunger strike, where their refusal to eat earns them the title of "the iron-jawed angels." "Iron Jawed Angels" was screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 before its television premiere on HBO.

The film will run through 4:40 p.m., after which the League of Women Voters will conduct a Q&A session.

Encore Learning is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002. They offer a wide variety of college-level noncredit courses, clubs, special events and activities to help meet the continuing educational and social interests of anyone over age 50, regardless of residence location.

• Location campus Central Library
• Audience:
  • Events for Adults
  • Good for Adults Age 55+
• Categories:
  • Film