People Are Defacing Susan B. Anthony’s Grave For A Beautiful Reason


Pictured: Susan B. Anthony's grave adorned after the New York primary. Photo via Facebook
Pictured: Susan B. Anthony’s grave adorned after the New York primary.
Photo via Facebook

“There never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers,” Susan B. Anthony said famously. 

Susan B. Anthony dedicated her life to women’s suffrage. She illegally voted in 1872, faced a federal court trial, and still refused to back down. To show appreciation for her tenacity voters are adorning her headstone with “I Voted Today” stickers. The grave is at Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York. Anthony lived and worked in Rochester where she was a leader in the fight for women’s right to vote.

This photo made rounds on social media after citizens cast their primary votes in New York. The original source of the photo from 2014 and trendsetter is Sarah Jane McPike. She is a local business owner in Rochester and has been involved in women’s rights marches since 2004.

“In a weird way I go there to fan my flame when it gone out,” said McPike in regards to Anthony’s grave. “It is important to me that regardless of politics and sides that as a woman especially a single mother female business owner that I pay my respects to the woman who fought for my freedom and my right to vote.”

Anthony wished she:

“[…] could but live another century and see the fruition of all the work for women! There is so much yet to be done.” 

96 years since the 19th Amendment, Sec. Hillary Clinton won the New York primary. The U.S. is closer to the possibility of a female president than ever. In 1995, Sec. Clinton gave a speech titled “Women’s Rights Are Human Rights.” In this speech she echoed the same message as Susan B. Anthony.

“Women must enjoy the rights to participate fully in the social and political lives of their countries, if we want freedom and democracy to thrive and endure. “

A century later the suffragette’s hard work is paying off. But as she said, there is so much yet to be done.

Featured photo from Facebook