Mary Ware Dennett

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Overview

Mary Coffin Ware Dennett born Worcester, MA April 4, 1872 (d. 1947). Art teacher; suffragist; socialist antiwar crusader. Secretary of American Union against Militarism, 1916; co-founder of radical anti-World War I People's Council, 1917; first chairperson of World Federalists, 1941-44. Convicted of obscenity for birth control literature, 1929.

Quotations

"If a few federal officials want to use their power to penalize me for my work for the young people of this country, they must bear the shame of the jail sentence. It is the government which is disgraced, not I." (April 24, 1929, Brooklyn federal courthouse; photo Intlawgrrls)

Maria Deraismes

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Overview

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Maria Deraismes born Paris, France August 15, 1828 (d. 1894). Leading French feminist and pacifist; founded Human Right, first Masonic lodge practicing equality 1882; co-founded Society for Amelioration of Women's Condition 1870; co-convened first women's rights conference 1878; promoted arbitration.

Quotations

"Elimination of women from universal suffrage necessarily means the prolongation of the warlike spirit."

"Armed peace is no less ruinous and demoralizing than war." (July 1883 petition, in Karen Offen, European Feminisms, pp. 175, 449, 2000; photo parisrevolutionnaire)

Jeanne Deroin

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Overview

Jeanne Deroin born Paris, France December 31, 1805 (d. 1894). Feminist pioneer and Saint Simonian socialist. Revolutionary leader, 1848. First woman to run for national office, 1849. Imprisoned for socialist views, 1851.

Quotations

“In politics the opinion of women, whether their inclinations are republican or aristocratic, can be thought of as love and peace. . . They all agree in wishing that a politics of peace and work would replace the selfish politics that incite men to destroy one another.” (Jean Scott, Only Paradoxes, p. 77; sketch nueva tribuna)

Juliette Derricotte

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Overview

Juliette Derricotte born Athens, GA April 1, 1896 (d. 1931 when hospital refused her care after auto crash). African-American internationalist educator; Dean of Women, Fisk University. Traveled the globe as representative of the World Student Christian Federation to promote peace and justice.

Quotations

"Do we look upon every person—white, red, yellow, black—as sons of God—sacred to God?" (Marion Cuthbert, Juliette Derricotte, 1936, p.34)

Alison Des Forges

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Overview

Alison Des Forges (née Liebhafsky) born Schenectady, NY August 20, 1942 (d. 2009). Human rights activist; expert on Rwanda genocide and Congo.

Quotations

“International leaders, chasing the ever-moving goal of stability, ignore crimes against humanity and tolerate obstruction of efforts to reveal the full horror of ongoing abuses in the region. By failing to demand accountability for current crimes, they undermine the credibility of justice being meted out for the genocide and by tolerating impunity for present slaughter, they perpetuate insecurity.” (Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda, 1999, p. 27; photo CNN.com)

Durgabai Deshmukh

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Overview

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Durgabai Deshmukh born Rajahmundry, Andra Pradesh, India July 15, 1909 (d. 1981). Lawyer; postwar legislator; social reformer, Gandhian freedom fighter; nonviolent organizer from age 14; known as "[the] Mother of Social Service." While training nonviolent resisters, called "lioness" and "dictator of Madras." Arrested three times, sentenced to 9 months for participation in Salt Satyagraha, 1930; 3 years sentence, 1932; again, 1942. (photo womensweb.ind)

Nirmala Deshpande

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Overview

Nirmala "Didi" Deshpande born Nagpur, Maharashtra, India October 17, 1929 (d. 2008). Gandhian social reformer; author; member of Indian Parliament, 1997-99, 2004-08. Joined Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan land reform movement, 1952; embarked upon 24,000-mile padayatra ("journey on foot") to spread Gandhi's message; led peace marches in Punjab and Kashmir; honored by both Pakistan and India for peace efforts. Led nonviolent peace effort on Tibet, 1997; created Gandhi Peace Center Kingsway Camp, Delhi, 2004; Nobel Peace Prize nominee, 2005.

Quotations

"[A]fter the disintegration of Soviet Union, only one super power was left. But now another super power is emerging. That is world public opinion for peace. The [New York Times] editor saw this people movement as another super power. It is in the making. It is people who took the initiative and organised themselves. They are trying to do something and make their voice heard. So the movement of people is becoming a strength. Slowly but surely it is going to become a super power and it can change the whole world."(Santosh Nayayan interview, 2008; Headlinesindia.com)

"Although we are living in a nuclear era, most of us are unaware of the nuclear threats and hazards." (New Delhi, November 4, 2007; photo Wikipedia)

Charlotte Despard

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Overview

Charlotte Despard (née French) born Ripple, Kent, England June 15, 1844 (d. 1939). English pacifist and feminist; opposed World War I; first suffrage arrest 1906; twice in Holloway prison for suffrage protests 1907; Theosophist, friend of Gandhi; used nonviolent resistance; furniture seized for tax refusal; supported Irish independence; Dublin home mobbed by anti-communists 1933.

Quotations

"Superiority in physical force was the first weapon which was used by the opponent of Woman's suffrage." (photo islingtontribune.com)

Dorothy Detzer

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Overview

Dorothy Detzer born Ft. Wayne, IN December 1, 1893 (d. 1981). WILPF National Secretary 1924-46; organized post-WW I Quaker relief to Austria and Russia; lobbied against arms makers and military training; advocated for women in international organizations.

Quotations

"Preparedness for war brings war, as it did in Germany... We, therefore, believe that we should find another method for settling international disputes other than that by the duel." (to American Legion, June 17, 1924; photo WILPF exhib, Swarth. Peace Col.)

Kate Dewes

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Overview

Kate Dewes born Hawera, New Zealand January 3, 1953. Peace activist and professor of peace studies, Canterbury University. Pioneered World Court Project, 1986; won ruling against nuclear weapons, 1996. Director of South Island Regional Office of Aotearoa/New Zealand Peace foundation for over 30 years. Vice-President, International Peace Bureau, 1997-2003. UN disarmament adviser, 2009.

Quotations

“I think everybody has a power to help change the world. If we work collectively together we can change it and we can move things in a different way. . . Everyone has that power and can do it by sitting around ordinary kitchen tables.” (Newshub, July 13, 2017; photo alliance of girls schools Australasia)

Amanda Halstead Deyo

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Overview

Rev. Amanda Deyo (née Halstead) born Clinton, NY October 24, 1838 (d. 1917). "The Peacemaker"; raised Quaker, became Universalist pastor; national peace speaker; delegate to international peace conferences, 1889.

Quotations

 "We demand the settlement of disputes of the world by arbitration: the settlement of all national disputes shall be had through these mighty powers of the human soul." ("Woman's War for Peace", World's Congress of Rep. Women May 1893, ed. by May Sewall 1894, p. 734)

Mariateresa Di Lascia

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Overview

Mariateresa Di Lascia born Rocchetta Sant'Antonio, Foggia, Italy June 3, 1954 (d. 1994) Radical Italian reformer; author. Coordinated Survival 82 international campaign against world hunger; co-founded Hunger Day in sympathy with victims of Balkan War, 1992. Opposed nuclear weapons, 1984. Her story “Vigil” condemned all forms of violence, 1992; co-founded Hands off Cain campaign against the death penalty, 1993. (photo tusquetseditores)

Diane di Prima

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Overview

Diane di Prima born Brooklyn, NY August 6, 1934. American anarchist and Beat Poet. Refused taxes for Vietnam War, 1966. Edited War Poems, 1968. Signed Pledge of Resistance to Bush wars, 2002.

Quotations

"[A]ll of us stop the war
at nine o’clock tomorrow, each take one soldier
see him clearly, love him, take the gun
out of his hand, lead him to a quiet spot
sit him down, sit with him as he takes a joint
of viet cong grass from his pocket."

(“Revolutionary Letter #13 c. 1968; photo analepsis.org)

Maria Di Rienzo

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Overview

Maria Di Rienzo born Palmanova, Udine, Italy June 4. Co-author of book Women Disarming about nonviolent women, 2003; feminist journalist, novelist, playwright; nonviolence trainer.

Quotations

"Nonviolence wants to create a world which is: - so of life, a world that values all that is alive; - Loving and empathetic: a world that cares for the people who live in the world; - Egalitarian: a world that values every single individual; - Cooperative: a world that encourages sharing between all and everyone; Democratic: a world that responds equally to the needs and desires of each, in which everyone takes responsibility for oneself; - Joyful: a world in which there is room for laughter and love and play." (notizie con frame; cbditalia.it; photo centodonnecenobici)

Princess Diana

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Overview

Princess Diana (née Spencer) born Sandringham, Norfolk, England July 1, 1961 (d. 1997). Influential leader in campaign against Landmines 1997, visiting Bosnia and Angola war zones; pioneer in compassion for victims of AIDS 1987.

Quotations

"The more expeditiously we can end this plague on earth caused by the landmine, the more readily can we set about the constructive tasks to which so many give their hand in the cause of humanity." (June 12, 1997 speech; photo heraldsun.com.au)