Almost four decades passed from the time Susan B. Anthony, the famous suffragette, introduced a constitutional amendment in Congress to give women the right to vote, little progress was made in passing it. It took nine years for Congress to even vote on the measure, and when they did, it was defeated on the floor by a two-to-one margin. Women were growing impatient, and began staging demonstrations. One group, led by Alice Paul, who has a history of militant protesting in Britain, began a months-long vigil outside the White House.

On this day, August 28, in 1917 a group of ten women, all from solidly middle-class background were arrested in front of the White House. The police had previously warned them that if they persist in carrying on their protest, arrests would be made, and a crowd had gathered to observe the events. The women were arrested and charged with obstructing traffic.

Although the women claimed the crowd that obstructed traffic had only gather because of the police announcement, they were still found guilty. Each woman was fined $25, and refused to pay it, on the grounds that doing so was an admission of guilt. Each, in response, was taken to jail for three days. Other suffragists taking up Paul’s cause were arrested on similar charges, and incarcerated for long terms. The conditions in Washington, D.C. jail were brutal: overcrowded cells that created a complete lack of privacy, vermin infestations, and a starvation diet that left many too weak to stand. Paul resorted to hunger strikers to prove her determination, and the prison authorities had to literally forcibly restrain and forcefeed her.