Emily Davison, a suffragette, runs out in front of King George V's horse at The Derby

On June 4, 1913, Emily Wilding Davison, a British suffragette and ardent campaigner for women's voting rights, undertook a bold and tragic act of protest at the Epsom Derby, one of England's most prestigious horse races. The Derby, attended by King George V and Queen Mary, was a high-profile event that offered an unparalleled stage for public demonstration. Davison, who had a history of daring militant tactics with the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), waited among the spectators near Tattenham Corner, clutching suffragette banners. As the race reached its climax, she ducked under the railing and stepped onto the track in front of the king's horse, Anmer. The collision was catastrophic: Davison was struck by the galloping horse and thrown violently to the ground, suffering a fractured skull and severe internal injuries. The jockey, Herbert Jones, was also injured but survived the incident. Davison was rushed to Epsom Cottage Hospital, where she remained unconscious and passed away four days later on June 8, 1913. Her motivations for the act remain debated—some suggest she intended to attach a suffragette flag to the king's horse, while others believe she may have intended to martyr herself for the cause. What is certain is that her death brought unprecedented attention to the suffrage movement. Images of the incident, captured on newsreel cameras, spread across the globe, galvanizing public opinion and highlighting the lengths to which suffragettes were willing to go for their cause. Davison’s funeral in London was a grand, orchestrated affair, attended by thousands of suffragettes dressed in white, purple, and green, the colors of the movement. Her tombstone bears the WSPU motto: 'Deeds not words.' Though women in Britain would not gain the right to vote until 1918 (for those over 30) and 1928 (for all over 21), Davison’s sacrifice remains a potent symbol of the struggle for gender equality and the price paid by those who championed it.