Marie Equi (1872 - 1952)

Sun Apr 07, 1872

Marie Equi, born on this day in 1872, was a radical medical doctor, gay rights advocate, Wobbly, and anarchist convicted of sedition for speaking out against American involvement in World War I.

Providing care for poor and working-class patients, she also regularly provided birth control information and abortions at a time when both were illegal. As a political activist, she was a vocal opponent of World War I and advocated civic and economic reforms, including the women's right to vote and an eight-hour workday.

After witnessing first-hand the brutality of police repression of a cannery workers' strike, Equi aligned herself with anarchists and the radical labor movement. While participating in the strike, she was clubbed by a policeman after becoming enraged at watching a pregnant women be dragged away by police.

Equi was also a lesbian who maintained a primary relationship with Harriet Frances Speckart (1883 - 1927) for more than a decade. The two women adopted an infant and raised the child in an early U.S. example of a same-sex family.

In 1918, Equi was convicted under the Sedition Act for speaking out against U.S. involvement in World War I. She was sentenced to a three-year term at San Quentin State Prison, but was released after ten months.

"Prepare to die, workingmen, JP Morgan & Co. want preparedness for profit."

- a banner held by Marie Equi during a "patriotic" parade in 1917

• Date: 1872-04-07
• Learn More: en.wikipedia.org, www.oregonencyclopedia.org.
• Tags: #Birthdays, #Anarchism, #Queer.
• Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org

While participating in the strike, she was clubbed by a policeman

Is that why she was so wobbly?

Had to look it up
Wobbly = member of the International Workers of the World

What is a 'Wobbly'?

A Industrial Workers of the World union member.

The origin of the world is disputed:
https://archive.iww.org/history/icons/wobbly/

Great post, thanks for sharing!

Im glad people like this and Hellen Keller are being recognized more

Thanks.

The origin of the world is not disputed by any credible physicists or geologists