In 1916, two suffragists climbed into a bright gold Saxon motorcar named the Golden Flyer and drove 11,000 miles across the United States in support of the radical idea that women deserved the right to vote. Many mocked them. Others said it was impossible. But that gold car kept moving, town by town and mile by mile, from New York to California and back. Four years later, women in every state in the union were able to exercise their right to vote.
Now, 110 years later, supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment are driving for equality again. An original Saxon motorcar has been restored (right down to the gold color!) and the Golden Flyer II is Driving the Vote for Equality. The Golden Flyer II team is traveling around the country, stopping in communities where people are fighting for equal pay and for gender equality in healthcare, safety, and dignity. The goal of the tour is to finish what those suffragists started: putting equality of rights under the law for all people into the United States Constitution.
On Tuesday, March 24, the Driving the Vote for Equality tour will be stopping in Austin, and you're invited!
Schedule (subject to change)
10:30 a.m.: Baker School (home to LWVAA), 3908 Avenue B -- Golden Flyer II photo opportunity & send-off
12:15 p.m.: Old Bakery & Emporium, 1006 Congress Avenue
1:00 p.m.: Golden Flyer II drives around the Capitol with a motorcycle escort
1:45 p.m.: BookWoman, 5501 N Lamar Blvd #A-105 -- Meet and greet and book signing with feminist historian Jeryl Shreiver, author of Driving the Vote for Women: An American Journey for Suffrage.
Want to know more? Read this article from Ms. Magazine to learn more about the tour, and follow along as the Golden Flyer II makes its way to Austin. We hope to see you on March 24!
Note: This is a community event presented by Zonta Club of Austin in partnership with LWVAA and AAUW Austin.