Emily Davison’s diary entry
London June 3rd 1913
Dear diary,
Today was most eventful. Mrs Pankhurst's announcement has spurned me on with such zest. I was so full of admiration for her bravery and determination in the face of the Peelers brutality. Incarceration can be so awful in these times of oppression. How can one human be so cruel to another? A woman. Do these women feel at all for our plight, or take note of what we want for them as well as ourselves. What I wear tomorrow must be comfortable for me to move freely through the crowd to the edge of the track. New boots will not do, old boots will suffice my ability to move swiftly. To night is a night I can not put my head on my pillow and sleep the deepest and most peaceful sleep. I am full of anticipation and fear. I can not wait for tomorrow to be over. I hope my actions will bring to light finally the injustices that women have dealt with for centuries. I try not to think of the event, but like all heroic deeds the needs of the mind are forever interrupting my calm and reserved nature. I sit in quite contemplation and question the matter ahead of me. Am I still rational in my beliefs? As the darkness falls, I sit with my quill in hand, the only companion until the roar of the crowd at the races tomorrow. It has crossed my mind the worst, but my meticulous plane will prevent any harm coming to me, along with my lord’s watchful eye. I will retire now to be bright and alert for tomorrow’s events. I hope it does not rain tomorrow, but there will be brighter skies anyway.
