Come join the upcoming suffrage parade in Oakland, celebrating the centennial
victory! Participation is free and your presence will highlight
the prominent role women have attained in our democracy!
October 2, 2011 - 11 am to 1 pm
Lakeside Park Bandstand We invite you to participate in the parade.
We will meet at the
Bandstand at Lakeside Park 11:00 AM Sunday morning. We will march up
Grand Avenue in costumes (optional) and return to the Bandstand! More details>
Oakland Parade History
Why
hold an Oakland parade? The first suffrage parade in all of
California took place in Oakland on August 23, 1908. The
Republican Convention was held at Ebell Hall, and a number of suffrage
groups decided to march to the Convention from the Oakland Hotel in
hopes of getting a suffrage plank on the Republican platform. This
parade of over 300 women re-energized the suffrage movement which led to
the successful passage of the suffrage referendum in 1911.
The
women of the 1908 parade are seen at left.
Thanks for Supporting the Parade!
Thank
you to all who contributed to help meet the parade costs for
facility rental, permits, and services mandated by the City
of Oakland. Thanks as well to the Alameda County Historical
Society, who served as our fiscal agent.
Ice
Cream Social Followed the Parade
Following brief after-parade speeches,
ice cream was served for those who marched. The ice cream social is generously
supported Oakland's own Fentons Creamery and
Assemblymember Nancy Skinner of the 14th Assembly District.
Montclair
Women's Big Band Played at Parade
As the parade drew to a close at the
Bandstand, musicians from the
Montclair
Women's Big Band warmed our hearts with exciting
entertainment.
Parade Sashes
Parade sashes were available for
purchase to highlight participation in the march. Wearing this purple and gold CA Woman
Suffrage Centennial Sash is the perfect way to celebrate the
100th Anniversary of California women winning the right to
vote. View enlarged image
of sash.
Purple, White and Gold make up the
suffrage colors. Purple represents freedom and dignity,
White stands for purity in public life and Gold goes back to
the Kansas campaign for suffrage in 1887 (women won
municipal suffrage) and represents the state flower – the
sunflower.
Parade Banner Posted
at Oakland City Hall
This banner, encouraging citizens to
celebrate the centennial by joining the parade, was
mounted over the entrance to Oakland's City Hall during the
week before the parade:
Replica of 1908 Parade Banner Carried
Marchers in the October 2, 2011 parade
carried this replica of the banner carried by the women
of the 1908 Oakland parade:
Find
View
parade video produced by 
Thank
you to all who contributed to help meet the parade costs for
facility rental, permits, and services mandated by the City
of Oakland. Thanks as well to the 
Following brief after-parade speeches,
ice cream was served for those who marched. The ice cream social is generously
supported Oakland's own Fentons Creamery and
Assemblymember Nancy Skinner of the 14th Assembly District.
