Richard H. Sylvester

Title

Richard H. Sylvester

Description

Sylvester was the Chief of Police in Washington, DC, during the Woman Suffrage Parade of 1913. The women were harassed by a large crowd of mostly male onlookers. Instead of protecting the marchers, the police failed to intervene and at times joined in on the attacks on the women. Eventually, Sylvester requested help from Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, who authorized US Army troops on horseback from nearby Fort Myer to help with crowd control. In 1915, formal criminal charges were filed against Sylvester for the incident and he resigned from the police force.

Creator

Richard H. Sylvester

Source

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. View original photograph.

Coverage

1860-1889

1890-1919

birthday

1860

Theme

politics & protest