Annie Arniel

Who was Annie Arniel?

Annie Arniel was a suffragist and women's rights advocate. Born in Harrington, Delaware, United States, as Anna L. Melvin, she married George Arniel of Canada and was widowed in 1910. Annie played a key role in helping to win the women's vote in the United States.

Arniel was A factory worker, living in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, when she was recruited by Mabel Vernon and Alice Paul for membership in the National Woman's Party. As a member of the Silent Sentinels she was among the first six suffragists arrested and jailed on June 27, 1917 at the White House. She served a total of eight jail terms for suffrage protesting, including: three days in June, 1917; 60 days in the Occoquan prison in Virginia, August–September, 1917 for picketing; 15 days for Lafayette Square meeting, and five sentences of five days each in January and February, 1919 for the watchfire demonstrations.