Enter the scene captured by a photograph where Julia Hurlbut, a prominent suffragist from Morristown, N.J., leads a procession of fellow suffragists down a city sidewalk. Both women proudly wear suffrage sashes and hold aloft suffrage banners, their colors and messages symbolizing their unwavering dedication to the cause.
As the procession advances, crowds of men walk alongside the women on both sides, bearing witness to this powerful display of activism. The energy in the air is palpable, as the suffragists make their presence known, demanding equal rights and amplifying their voices through peaceful protest.
Amidst the march, Iris Calderhead, a courageous suffragist hailing from Marysville, Kans., and later Denver, Colo., can be seen on the right, vigilantly monitoring the progress of the pickets. Her commitment to the cause led to her arrest on July 4, 1917, and a brief three-day stay in District Jail.
Julia Hurlbut's dedication to suffrage activism extended beyond picketing, as she engaged in war work in France during World War I. Her involvement in the movement left an indelible mark, including her arrest on July 14, 1917, for picketing, which resulted in a sentence of 60 days in the Occoquan Workhouse. However, President Wilson granted her a pardon after just three days, recognizing the significance of the suffragist's cause.
This powerful photograph captures a pivotal moment in the struggle for women's suffrage, immortalizing the bravery and determination of individuals like Julia Hurlbut and Iris Calderhead. Their unwavering commitment to equality and justice resonates through the image, inspiring generations to continue the fight for equal rights for all. We are all standing on their shoulders today.