February 29

Women peacemakers born today

  • 1736 Ann Lee born Manchester, England (d. 1784). Founding mother of nonviolent pacifist Shaker movement. Arrested for persuading men not to fight in American Revolution, 1780; accused of treason, jailed 5 months.

  • 1860 Mary Hughes born London, England (d. 1941). “Friend of All in Need.” British social worker; Christian Socialist; lifelong pacifist. Denied exit for Hague Women's Peace Congress, 1915.

Women's peacemaking on this day

  • 1960 Diane Nash spoke for nonviolent students protesters at Nashville sit-in trial; 16 students jailed.

  • 1975 International Women's Year recommended to UN General Assembly by UN Commission on Women.

  • 1996 Louise Arbour of Canada appointed UN Prosecutor for Rwanda War Crimes Tribunal by UN Security Council.