BLAZING A Trail
A NEW MONUMENT RISES BEHIND MEMPHIS LAW
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By Ryan Jones
or years, the promenade behind the law school has been a sleepy, yet peaceful, space full of Memphians taking advantage of the greenspace and paved trails running the length of the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. But this spring a new monument was installed that will bring many more downtown residents, tourists and law students looking to take in a bit of history alongside the panoramic views.
The new monument honors trailblazers of the women’s suffrage movement from Shelby County who participated in nonviolent efforts to win the right to vote for American women. In the larger context of the national movement, Tennessee itself was vitally important to the suffrage cause, as it was the final state to ratify the 19th Amendment, with which women won the right to vote. The design of the monument features six busts sculpted by noted Tennessee sculptor Alan LeQuire, along with a sculptural depiction of the “100 Year March,” a 70-foot long series of 9-foot tall wall panels representing women marching for their rights from 1918 to 2019.
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UNIVERSIT Y OF MEMPHIS
