Women's Convention. Issued by Women's Social and Political Union

Printed handbill announcing a Women's Convention to be held at Caxton Hall on 30 June and 2 July 1908. Organised by the Women's Social and Political Union the Convention, also known as the Women's Parliament was primarily called to discuss Prime Minister Asquith's response to the resolution carried at the Suffragette demonstration held in Hyde Park on 21st June. Following the meeting on 30th June a deputation of eight women led by Emmeline Pankhurst set out for the House of Commons. As all the other women remained locked in Caxton Hall by the police, Asquith refused to receive the deputation. That evening when they were released from the Hall the women encountered a crowd of up to 100, 000 massed in Parliament Square. The resulting confrontation with the 1700 policemen on duty led to the arrest and imprisonment of 25 women including Mary Leigh and Edith New who became the first convicted Suffragette 'window smashers' when they threw stones through the window of 10 Downing Street.