The ACLU issued a posthumous reversal of their decision to expel her
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Figure timeline
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn was an American labor leader and feminist. In the early years of her activist career, she was an organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World. During World War I she founded the Workers Defense Union (WDU), to advocate for anyone arrested and imprisoned for violating the Espionage Act while championing the cause of labor. In 1920, Flynn helped found the American Civil L…
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
culture · American labor leader and feminist (1890–1964) · women's rights activist · activist · suffragist · trade unionist · politician · party chair · journalist · writer · autobiographer · communist · also Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Elizabeth G. Flynn, Elizabeth Flynn, Flynn
Born 7 August 1890 · Died 5 September 1964 · Q463265
21 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
11 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
1976· 1 entry
1964· 1 entry
Died 1964-09-05.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #death
1963· 1 entry
And Herbert Aptheker, whose passport had also been revoked, had their case heard by the Supreme Court
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1961· 1 entry
Flynn became the first national chairwoman of CPUSA
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1942· 1 entry
Ran for Congress at-large in New York and received 50,000 votes
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1940· 1 entry
In a highly controversial move, the ACLU expelled her from its executive committee because she was a Communist, despite her reputation as a longtime advocate of free speech
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1939· 1 entry
Flynn was re-elected to the executive board of the ACLU
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1937· 1 entry
Flynn joined Communist Party USA (CPUSA)
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1936· 1 entry
During the Popular Front period and became one of its most recognized and beloved leaders
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1926· 1 entry
While she was actively involved in the defense campaign for Sacco and Vanzetti, Flynn was taken seriously ill while on a speaking trip on the West Coast
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1920· 1 entry
Flynn helped found the American Civil Liberties Union
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1915· 1 entry
Managed to meet with President Woodrow Wilson in the White House to plead for clemency on Hill's behalf, but it was to no avail and he was executed eight days later
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1914· 1 entry
“The Truth About the Paterson Strike”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
1910· 1 entry
Spokane relented, giving the IWW the right to hold speech meetings and letting all IWW protestors free
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1909· 1 entry
Flynn played a leading role in free speech fights in Missoula, MT, and Spokane, WA
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1908· 1 entry
“I fell in love with him and we were married in January 1908.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
1907· 2 entries
Flynn met a Minnesota local organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World, J
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Flynn became a full-time IWW organizer
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1900· 1 entry
To the Bronx, New York, where she was educated at the local public schools
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1890· 2 entries
In Concord, New Hampshire, the daughter of Annie (Gurley) and Thomas Flynn
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Born 1890-08-07.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth