December 3

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Women peacemakers born today

  • 1899 Rama Devi Choudhury born Satyabhamapur, Cuttack, India (d. 1985). Gandhian leader; mother of activist Annapurna Maharana. Arrested on three occasions during independence movement, 1921, 1936, 1942; participated in Salt Movement. Organized relief for refugees from Bangladesh violence; helped in famine relief efforts, Koraput, 1951.

  • 1935 Eddie Bernice Johnson born Waco, TX. Psychiatric nurse and politician. US Representative for Dallas, 1993. As head of Congressional Black Caucus, led opposition to Iraq War; opposed Kosovo bombing; voted to exit Afghanistan and Iraq. Supported a Department of Peace and Nonviolence, 2007.

  • 1935 Ellen Moxley born Nanjing, China. Scottish citizen; Quaker pacifist; zoologist. Worked with Friends in Vietnam; took part in Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament protests; founded Dunblane Peace House, 1987. Recipient of Right Livelihood award, 2001; awarded Gandhi Peace Prize, 2004.

  • 1942 Alice Schwarzer born Wuppertal, Germany. Leading German feminist; lifelong pacifist; journalist; controversially advocated women’s military service to break “male craziness” of power, but supported conscientious objection, and hoped other women would follow.

  • 1960 Daryl Hannah born Chicago, IL. Actress; eco-activist who has protested whaling, logging, sexual slavery, Amazon oil; jailed for farm protest; participated in civil disobedience against Iraq War, Los Angeles, 2006.

Women's peacemaking on this day

  • 1851 Nonviolent abolitionist educational pioneer Myrtilla Miner established teachers school for African-Americans, Washington DC.

  • 1909 10,000 women marched to NY City Hall in garment strike.

  • 1918 Carrie Chapman Catt came up with the idea of League of Women Voters as a "service to welfare of humanity."

  • 1970 Receiving a Public Service medal, Debra Sweet spoke truth to President Nixon. "I can’t believe you’re sincere in giving this award for service, when you’re killing millions of people in Vietnam."

  • 1982 UN General Assembly passed resolution on Participation of Women in Promoting Peace.

  • 2003 Mano River Women's Peace Network (MARWOPNET) awarded UN prize for human rights.

  • 2016 Seattle Women’s March Against Hate, organized by Demi Wetzel and Kelsey Coleman.