IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1109 

Recognizing the historic Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913 and honoring 

the courageous suffragists who fought tirelessly for women’s right to vote. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 26, 2024 

Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia (for herself, Mrs. CHAVEZ-DEREMER, Mrs. 

BEATTY, Ms. NORTON, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. KIM of New 

Jersey, Mr. NEGUSE, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ

of Texas, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Mrs. MCBATH, 

Ms. CROCKETT, Ms. BUDZINSKI, Ms. SALINAS, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, 

Mr. MULLIN, Mr. DELUZIO, Mr. GOLDMAN of New York, Ms. LEE of 

California, Ms. LEE of Pennsylvania, Ms. SEWELL, Ms. JACOBS, Mr. 

CONNOLLY, Ms. TITUS, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Mr. CARSON, Ms. BROWN, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. SOTO, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, 

Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. BROWNLEY, Ms. STANSBURY, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. ALLRED, Mrs. DINGELL, Ms. CRAIG, Mr. 

KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. GARCIA of Texas, Ms. 

CLARKE of New York, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mrs. FOUSHEE, 

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia, Mr. PETERS, Ms. SCHOLTEN, Ms. ADAMS, Ms. 

BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mr. ESPAILLAT, and Mr. GOTTHEIMER) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the historic Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913 

and honoring the courageous suffragists who fought tirelessly for women’s right to vote. 

Whereas women have long been denied the right to participate fully in the democratic process, facing discrimination 

and disenfranchisement solely based on their gender; 


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•HRES 1109 IH 

Whereas the Women’s Suffrage Movement emerged in the 

late 19th and early 20th centuries as a powerful force advocating for the fundamental right of women to vote and 

have a voice in shaping the future of their country; 

Whereas, Alice Paul, Chair of the Congressional Committee 

of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, 

championed a shift toward Federal action, citing the slow 

progress and high costs associated with State-by-State 

referendums on women’s suffrage; 

Whereas Paul organized a procession on March 3, 1913, to 

persuade incoming President Woodrow Wilson of the necessity for a constitutional amendment for national women’s suffrage; 

Whereas, on March 3, 1913, the streets of Washington, DC, 

filled with thousands of women clad in suffragist white 

and carrying banners emblazoned with demands for equal 

rights and voting privileges; 

Whereas, Inez Milholland, a notable suffragist and labor lawyer, led the procession atop a white horse named ‘‘Grey 

Dawn’’, symbolizing the suffragists’ definition of how a 

new woman of the 20th century dressed and behaved; 

Whereas the marchers began their journey from the Capitol 

Grounds and made their way along Pennsylvania Avenue 

toward the Treasury Building, with additional participants waiting at the end of the route in the grandstand 

set up for the next day’s inauguration; 

Whereas the suffragists waved banners and placards bearing 

slogans such as ‘‘Votes for Women’’ and ‘‘We Demand 

An Amendment To The Constitution of the United States 

Enfranchising the Women Of This Country’’; 


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Whereas the procession featured marchers organized into 

seven sections, including women from countries with suffrage rights, representatives of various occupations, sororities and women’s clubs, including members of Delta 

Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and State delegations, highlighting the diverse and widespread support for the suffrage cause; 

Whereas, despite initial expectations of a 45-minute procession, the event lasted several hours, drawing an estimated 

crowd of up to half a million spectators, including many 

in Washington, DC, for Wilson’s inauguration; 

Whereas, in the face of immense opposition, including verbal 

harassment and physical assaults, suffragists were resilient and determined to continue their march for equality; 

Whereas, despite the joint resolution to keep the procession 

route clear, spectators at Fifth Street obstructed the 

path, forcing the marchers to navigate through a hostile 

crowd; 

Whereas suffragists were subjected to taunts and attacks, including sexual propositions and being told to ‘‘go home’’ 

by hostile onlookers; 

Whereas the violence escalated to the point where at least 

100 protesters required medical attention, and medical 

professionals had to navigate through the crowd to reach 

the injured marchers; 

Whereas, despite the challenges and dangers they faced, 

many suffragists pressed on and completed the route, 

demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the 

cause; 

Whereas the visual spectacle of the procession conveyed the 

breadth and depth of women’s desire for the franchise; 


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•HRES 1109 IH 

Whereas the Woman Suffrage Procession demanded equal 

voting rights for women and drew attention to the urgent 

need for political and social reform to achieve gender 

equality; 

Whereas, as the marchers reached their destination at the 

gates of the Treasury Building, they urged incoming 

President Woodrow Wilson to support the cause of women’s suffrage and champion legislation granting women 

the right to vote; 

Whereas when President-elect Wilson arrived in Washington, 

DC, for the next day’s inauguration to little fanfare, one 

of the incoming President’s staff asked, ‘‘Where are all 

the people?’’, and was told ‘‘Watching the suffrage parade’’, by police on hand; 

Whereas the images of that historic procession, captured for 

posterity in newspapers and photographs, seared themselves into the collective consciousness of the Nation, 

serving as a stark reminder of the unfinished work of democracy and the urgent need for change; 

Whereas the overwhelming support and extensive media coverage of the Woman Suffrage Procession propelled the 

movement to the forefront of national attention; 

Whereas the spotlight shed on the procession became a focal 

point in the ongoing struggle for women’s suffrage, galvanizing public discourse and garnering widespread support for the cause; 

Whereas the bravery and perseverance of the suffragists who 

participated in the Woman Suffrage Procession catalyzed 

the women’s suffrage movement into a national effort focused on Federal legislative change; 


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•HRES 1109 IH 

Whereas the relentless advocacy of suffragists like Alice Paul 

and Lucy Burns, who led the charge at the Woman Suffrage Procession, laid the groundwork for the eventual 

passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States 

Constitution, which granted women the right to vote in 

1920; 

Whereas, as we commemorate this pivotal moment in the history of the women’s rights movement, let us reaffirm our 

commitment to upholding the principles of equality and 

democracy for all, ensuring that the sacrifices made by 

the suffragists are honored and their legacy preserved for 

future generations; 

Whereas the Woman Suffrage Procession underscored the urgent need for Federal voting rights legislation; 

Whereas Federal legislation provides valuable protections in 

ensuring the right to vote for all citizens; 

Whereas the imperative for Federal voting laws remains 

paramount, guaranteeing universal access to the ballot 

box and transcending the limitations of State jurisdiction; 

Whereas, despite the progress made since the passage of the 

19th Amendment, significant barriers to voting rights 

and access persist for many marginalized communities, 

including women of color; 

Whereas it is imperative to recognize the intersectional nature of the struggle for voting rights, acknowledging that 

women of color, particularly Black women, faced not only 

sexism, but also racism during the Woman Suffrage Procession and continue to face systemic barriers to political 

participation; and 

Whereas the ongoing fight for voting rights echoes the struggles of the suffragists who bravely marched in 1913, reVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:05 Mar 26, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1109.IH HR1109

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minding us of the importance of defending and expanding 

democracy for all Americans: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commemorates the historic Woman Suffrage 

3 Procession of 1913 and honors the courageous suf4 fragists who fought tirelessly for women’s right to 

5 vote; 

6 (2) recognizes the enduring significance of the 

7 Women’s Suffrage Movement in advancing gender 

8 equality and political participation in the United 

9 States; 

10 (3) reaffirms its commitment to upholding and 

11 protecting voting rights for all Americans, regardless 

12 of gender, race, or socioeconomic status; 

13 (4) condemns all forms of voter suppression 

14 and discrimination that undermine the integrity of 

15 our democracy and disenfranchise marginalized com16 munities; 

17 (5) calls for renewed efforts to dismantle sys18 temic barriers to voting and ensure equitable access 

19 to the ballot box for every citizen; and 

20 (6) pledges to continue working toward a more 

21 inclusive and representative democracy that reflects 

22 all Americans’ voices and experiences. 

Æ 


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