Women peacemakers born today

1827 Emily Howland born Sherwood, NY (d. 1929). Quaker pacifist; abolitionist; suffragist; teacher of African-Americans, 1857-1927; faced mobs nonviolently.

1858 Selma Lagerlof born Mårbacka, Sweden (d. 1950). Swedish author; awarded Nobel Prize for Literature, 1909. Opposed World War I; published pacifist novel The Outcast, 1918; signed Anti-Conscription Manifesto, 1930; aided victims of Finnish War and Nazi refugees.

1918 Corita Kent born Ft. Dodge, IA (d. 1986). Peace artist; Immaculate Heart nun; nonviolent Vietnam War protester, 1967; supporter of farmworkers; supporter of Martin Luther King, Jr.

1923 Nadine Gordimer born Springs, Transvaal, South Africa (d. 2014). Awarded Nobel Literature Prize, 1991; early opponent of Apartheid; books banned; hid African National Congress leaders.

1944 Koko Kondo born Hiroshima, Japan. Prominent hibakusha, survivor of Hiroshima; international peace activist; opposed wars in Iraq and Chechnya.

1959 Jeanmarie Simpson born Ray, AZ. American pacifist actress, whose roles include Jeannette Rankin and Mary Dyer; leader of WILPF.

Women's peacemaking on this day

1926 Finnish branch of Women’s International League established.
1986 Elizabeth Richards' "Working Towards Peace" at UN.
1993 UN Declaration Against Violence Towards Women.
2010 Nancy H. Smith arrested protesting the School of the Americas, for which she was sentenced to 6 months at Danbury Prison.
2010 Women Say No to NATO Europe-wide protests; London women wore purple t-shirts.
2011 Theresa Cusimano arrested second time for protesting the School of Americas. Previously spent 2 months in prison, 2008.