Bernice Fisher

Overview

Bernice Fisher born Punxsutawney, PA December 8, 1916 (d. 1966). "Godmother of the restaurant 'sit-in' technique." Civil rights activist and labor organizer. Socialist; Baptist pacifist; Gandhian nonviolent resistance advocate. Head of Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), Chicago chapter. Founding member of Committee of Racial Equality (CORE), 1942. Took part in one of first American sit-ins at Jack Spratt’s Coffee Shop, Chicago, 1943.

Quotations

On James Farmer’s idea of nonviolent action: “Thank God! At last, we may be able to turn this nation around. It’s the most exciting idea I’ve ever heard!” (Victory without Violence, p.21; photo Wikipedia)