April 19

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Women peacemakers born today

  • 1854 Emma Pieczynska-Reichenbach born Paris, France (d. 1927). Swiss peace educator and speaker; feminist and Christian pacifist.

  • 1872 Alice Salomon born Berlin, Germany (d. 1948). “Matriarch of German social studies.” Founded Social Women’s School, 1908. Founded German Academy for Women's Social and Educational Work, 1925.

  • 1882 Margery Corbett Ashby born Danehill, East Sussex, England (d. 1981). British suffragist and politician. Observed Versailles Peace Conference, 1919. Delegate to Geneva Disarmament Conference, 1932; resigned when government rearmed, 1935. Drafted UN Human Rights Declaration; participated in final demonstration at age 98.

  • 1893 Jessie Stephen born Marylebone, London (d. 1979). British militant suffragist, pacifist and Socialist labor organizer; leader in No Conscription Fellowship opposing First World War.

  • 1934 Sally Jean Michael Gawel (d. 1999). Radical Northeastern University professor of philosophy. Joined student strike after Kent State shootings, 1970. Coined the slogan "Pentago! Pentagoing! Pentagon!" at Women's March against the war, 1971.

  • 1939 Inga-Britt Ahlenius born Karlstad, Sweden. Swedish financial expert; UN Under-Secretary of Internal Oversight, 2005; Auditor of UN mission in Kosovo, 2003.

  • 1968 Ashley Judd born Granada Hills, CA. Film actress. Appointed Global Youth Aids Ambassador, 2003; documentary on AIDS in India, 2007; two missions to Congo against genocide and rape.

Women's peacemaking on this day

  • 1913 Kasturba Gandhi committed herself to civil disobedience Phoenix, Natal.

  • 1915 Maude Royden's classic book Militarism versus Feminism published.

  • 1989 Daughters of Mother Jones ended their occupation of Pittston coal plant Lebanon, VA.

  • 1941 Bertolt Brecht's anti-fascist play “Mother Courage” debuted in Zurich, starring Therese Giehse.

  • 1992 Federation des Femmes por la Paix Mondiale (FFPM) founded Seoul.

  • 1992 "Tomb of Death" protest by four nuns at Wirstmith Airforce base Osceola WI.

  • 1997 Swedish Women Choose Life Rev. Cecilia Redner and Marija Fischer planted apple tree at Bofors arms factory.

  • 2007 Cabinet of Finland attained female majority, a global first.

  • 2015 During a visit from two Ugandan cabinet ministers, Keromela Anek led women in a nude roadblock in the village of Apaa.