Alice Paul, a Quaker suffragette from Moorestown, N.J., had organized the picketing of the White House beginning in January 1917. Its purpose was to convince President Woodrow Wilson to support the proposed constitutional amendment that would give American women the vote.

Beginning in June, the government suddenly started arresting the pickets for blocking the sidewalk and began issuing small fines. Then on July 14, 16 were arrested, including three from New Jersey.