AIBU to remind younhat Emily Davidson died on this day

[Believeitornot]

She died so women could vote.

If you're wavering about voting, I don't care who for, at least have a think about Emily

[TheScottishPlay]

Thank you for this Believeit. I hope it inspires people to make the effort in their already busy days.

[SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman]

Oh thank you! I didn't realise it was this date!

[WhatALoadOfOldBollocks]

YANBU. Thank you for the reminder.

[GhostsToMonsoon]

I didn't realise it was on this date. Thank you for the timely reminder.

[waitforitfdear]

Great thread op.

Brave woman and will go tell my teen dds who are voting today for the first time.

[x2boys]

Didn't she throw herself under the kings horse Amner or was that another suffragette (amazing what you recall from history GCSE from nearly 30 years ago...)

[Believeitornot]

It's doubtful she actually meant to throw herself under the kings horse and actively try and kill herself. She had a return train ticket home I recall.

Either way, a woman to be admired.

[Dandandandandandandan]

It was 4 June when she did it and 8 June when she sadly died. YANBU to raise it at all!

Lots of interesting theories about what she meant to do. E.g. Believe - apparently you could only buy a return ticket that day because it was derby day!

The fact that she couldn't have seen which was the king's horse from the stands plus her position at the back - maybe she just meant to jump out with the sash and put it on a horse? Maybe she just meant to run across the track to raise awareness and thought all the horses had gone, as the king's horse was towards the back?

Also some evidence to show she and friends had been practising grabbing and stopping horses in the park in previous weeks.

She had stuff in her diary for after the race and that week.

So we'll never know, but her sacrifice was definitely not in vain, and should never be forgotten.

[AmenacingWhistle]

No not at all unreasonable.

[SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman]

I have copies of family birth and death certificates signed by her fellow Suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst, who worked as a registrar in Manchester.

[ForalltheSaints]

Thank you for reminding us. The film Suffragette is worth seeing even though it seems to have some dramatic licence.

Remember also there are countries where women still do not have the vote, or even the same rights as men.

[PolaDeVeboise]

A relative of hers was on the Jeremy Vine show yesterday and she said that Emily was trying to put her sash onto the horse and got trampled under it's hooves.

[LanaKanesLeftNippleTassle]

Thanks for posting this.

The sacrifices made by those brave women, must never, ever be forgotten.

It's so importantto remember that less than a 100 years ago, none of us would have had the right to do what we are doing today.

Please vote. Otherwise Emily (and others) died and suffered in vain.

And as you mark your paper spare a thought for all those women who still, in 2017, don't have a vote, or even a voice.

Make yours count.

[DiseasesOfTheSheep]

a woman to be admired

Well I suppose that's one point of view. Personally, I find casual acts of terrorism, endangering the jockey and the horse, and the multiple acts of violence EWD performed, to be reprehensible (not to mention foolhardy). It's not something I look for in a strong female role model, nor, in my opinion, was it a constructive or meaningful contribution to the suffrage campaign.

But that is, of course, just my point of view.

[HysterectomyHysteria]

Please spell her name correctly.
Her name is Emily Davison.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

She was force-fed 49 times in prison.

[Northernparent68]

It's worth pointing out the suffragettes did not believe in the universal franchise, they just wanted the property qualification removed.
It should also be remembered The jockey is said never to have recovered from Davison's actions.

[SleepOhHowIMissYou]

I do not support or celebrate terrorist actions, regardless of the cause.

YABU, to salute this woman's, at best foolish and at worst violent, act.

[Peanutbuttercheese]

You can actually see the incident on you tube of all places as it was caught on camera. I feel a bit uncomfortable posting this perchance its perceived as voyueristic but it's surprising it's out there. I found it a while ago whilst searching for other information about the suffragette movement.

[GreenHillsOfHome]

Yabu.

I hate the stance that I am more obligated to vote than a man just because I'm female.

As far as I'm concerned, the suffragettes fought to give women an equal right to men re:voting. Which means I'm under no more obligation to vote than dh IMO.

[Believeitornot]

Nelson Mandela was also seen as a terrorist

At the end of the day it is a reminder that once upon a time, women were unable to vote. For me it is the reminder that the freedoms we now have did not always exist. And for that we should be grateful.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

How do you define terrorist? Because it's not actually clear cut. Do you want to include the Resistance and Nelson Mandela? The German officers who tried to kill Hitler? Greenpeace?

[TheWhiteRoseOfYork]

In 1914 they let off a bomb in Westminster Abbey. How would that be viewed today?

[SleepOhHowIMissYou]

Terrorism is defined as the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.

Emily Davison's actions endangered the lives of all the jockeys (and horses) on the field. Her action was either incredibly stupid or incredibly wicked depending on whether or not she intended to sacrifice herself. If it was the latter, how does she differ from Islamist extremist suicide bombers who harm the innocent?

Nelson Mandela is debatable, but comparing the Resistance and the attempted assignation of Hitler to terrorism is rather a stretch.

[Willyoujustbequiet]

She was raised and lived locally to me. They make a big deal out of various anniversaries and have well attended events.