The event was organised by
Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, the WSPU's treasurer, and featured the WSPU colours (purple, white and green) for the first time in public. Women were asked to wear white dresses, and leading up to the event, shops offered displays of clothing for attendees. The
Daily Chronicle noted: "White frocks will be prominent in the windows with a plentiful supply of dress accessories in violet and green". In the two days before the event, over 10,000 scarves in the colours were sold at two shillings and elevenpence each. Men wore ties in the colours. holding aloft a purple, white and green flag in front of one of the seven bands
Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington,
George Bernard Shaw,
H. G. Wells,
Thomas Hardy and
Israel Zangwill. It was said that 300,000 spectators had witnessed the 700 suffragists with their embroidered banners. The
Daily Chronicle stated, "Never, has so vast a throng gathered in London to witness a parade of political forces". The
Standard claimed, "From first to last it was a great meeting, daringly conceived, splendidly stage-managed, and successfully carried out. Hyde Park has probably never seen a greater crowd of people". ==See also==