Press Releases

LORTON, VA – This Women's History Month, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), in partnership with the Workhouse Arts Center, will host a powerful and timely discussion examining the future of voting rights in America.

The event, titled “Voices That Shape History. Conversations That Shape Tomorrow,” will take place on Monday, March 23, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Workhouse Arts Center, located at 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA.

The program will feature a thought-provoking panel discussion surrounding the SAVE Act, exploring the devastating effects that this legislation would have on women, minorities, and rural communities.

Following the panel discussion, attendees will have a chance to visit the Lorton Prison Museum and featuring the Lucy Burns Gallery. The Workhouse gained early visibility by holding suffragists Lucy Burns, Dora Lewis, and dozens more. The treatment of the suffragists while at the Occoquan Workhouse in 1917 would play a pivotal role in the fight to pass the 19th Amendment, and today's attendees will walk the same grounds where these courageous women were imprisoned for demanding their right to vote.

“Standing on the very grounds where women were imprisoned and tortured for demanding the right to vote is a powerful reminder that democracy is never guaranteed. Every generation is called to defend it,” said Congressman Walkinshaw. “The suffragists who suffered here did not endure injustice so future Americans could be pushed away from the ballot box by cynical attacks on their rights. As bills like the SAVE Act threaten access to the vote for millions of women, minorities, and rural Americans, we have a responsibility to speak out, organize, and fight back. I am proud to partner with the Workhouse Arts Center to bring our community together in this historic place to honor the legacy of the suffragists and continue their unfinished fight for equal access to the ballot box.”

Katie Crooks, Director of Museum and Visitor Experience at the Workhouse Arts Center, emphasized the profound significance of the setting:

"Our museum stands as a testament to the resilience of the suffragists who were imprisoned within these walls simply for demanding a voice in their government. To host a conversation about the future of voting rights here is to remind ourselves that history is not a distant relic—it is a through-line connecting the courage of Lucy Burns to the advocates of today. We are honored to provide a space where our community can be inspired by the past and empowered to shape tomorrow."

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