March 29
/Women peacemakers born today
1903 Vera Micheles Dean born Petrograd, Russia (d. 1972). Russian-American political scientist and policy specialist. Foreign Policy Association research director, 1928-1961; adviser to American delegation to UN and UNRRA. Early advocate of rapprochement with USSR; anti-imperialist.
1918 Pearl Mae Bailey born Newport News, VA (d. 1992). African-American singer and actress. Named as America's "Ambassador of Love" by Richard Nixon, 1970; appointed special ambassador to the UN by Gerald Ford, 1975. Promoted campaign against AIDS.
Women's peacemaking on this day
1986 Women of Bonny Island, Nigeria shut down Shell refinery, sitting on helicopter pad.
1991 Sister Marilyn Pray and Mary Rose Palumbo were arrested for Seneca Depot protest.
2011 Bahraini school teacher Jaleela al-Salman was arrested for protesting and organizing teachers' strikes during the Arab Spring uprising.
2012 Hana Shalabi ended her 43-day hunger strike in Israeli detention after arrangements were made for a 3-year exile to the Gaza Strip.
2016 Ellen Gerhart began “tree-sit” in nonviolent defense of forest cleared for pipeline Huntingdon, PA.