In 1903 Emmeline had founded The Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), a movement she would lead right the way through until its disbandment in 1918, growing ever more daring in its acts of rebellion.
In September 1908, along with her sister Christabel (also a Suffragette) and Flora Drummond decided to organise what was known as "a rush" on Parliament, storming it like the Bastille; specifically they aimed at the House of Commons which was thought to be more sympathetic, being closer to the working man than the House of Lords which was very aptly named. The planning took some time, but an enormous crowd of women gathered in Trafalgar Square on Sunday the 11th of October, incited by the fact that two days before the leading trio had been issued with summons after the police had been sent copies of the leaflet organising the rally. In fact police, in plain clothes, were at the rally too. This led to their arrest, and to them not being able to attend their "rush"; however sixty thousand people were there to take part, and many attempts to break into the House through the policemen who were protecting it in force. However they did not manage.
There is also another connection with this card, because in 1911 there was a major plan to disrupt the census. The idea was that women would either deface, or destroy the forms. Some went further, and Emily Davison actually hid in a broom cupboard within the Houses of Parliament. She remained there for forty-six hours, and then planned to record her place of residence as The Palace of Westminster. Her plan ended when she was found, by a cleaner, and arrested. She was released without charge, but her census still records that she was "found hiding in the Crypt of Westminster Hall, Westminster’.
If you look at the 1911 census, however, you will also find her at home, at her address in Coram Street; on the form which was filled in by her landlady.
And today there is a plaque, in her honour, in that cupboard.