Councillors to vote on awarding Mary Clarke with Freedom of the City

A proposal to posthumously recognise suffragette Mary Clarke with the city’s highest honour will be voted on at a special council meeting on Thursday 14 December 2023.

We will be hosting a small ceremony to celebrate Mary’s legacy with her family members on the same day.

The title of Honorary Freewoman or Freeman is awarded to people who have, in the opinion of the council, rendered eminent service to the council or the city.

Mary Clarke left her mark on our city’s history after she became an organiser of Brighton’s Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), which she co-founded with her sister Emmeline Pankhurst, calling for women’s right to vote.

Mary’s legacy

Mary Clarke became an organiser for the WSPU’s Brighton branch in 1909.

During her time in Brighton, she helped build the WSPU operation in the south east and organise the campaigns for the general election, regularly addressing crowds of supporters on the seafront.

She was known for her gentleness, good humour, composure and wit, even when dealing with hecklers and abuse.

She was one of the 300 women to demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament during what is now known as ‘Black Friday’, where she was injured and beaten by the police.

Throughout years of campaigning, she was arrested 3 times and, in Holloway Prison, was subjected to force feeding – a cruel practice inflicted upon those on hunger strikes.

She died on Christmas Day in 1910, 2 days after her release from Holloway.

Her memorial service took place in the Royal Pavilion, during which she was dubbed the ‘first woman martyr who has gone to death for this cause.’

Freedom for Mary Clarke

Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of the Council, said:

“Mary Clarke dedicated her life to campaigning for women’s right to vote, facing heckling, abuse and imprisonment with dignity and composure.

“It’s because of women like her, that women like me can enter politics and continue the fight for women’s rights. I want every girl and woman in our great City to know about Mary Clarke and what she did for us.

“It is fitting to recognise her extraordinary efforts with a Freedom of the City award, making sure she will always be a part of our city’s history and her message won’t be forgotten.”

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