Eleanor Franklin Egan

Overview

Eleanor Franklin Egan (née Bertha Eleanor Pedigo) born Lawrence County, IL April 28, 1879 (d. 1925). International news correspondent. Covered Russo-Japanese War, 1903; Philippines, 1911; World War in Iraq, 1918; famines in China, 1921, Russia, 1922; Armenian massacre, 1923. Official delegate to history’s most successful disarmament, Washington Naval Conference, 1922.

Quotations

“Heaps of moldering soldier clothes and dead men’s bones scattered and kicked about! Such things cause waves of shuddering nausea.” (The War in the Cradle of the World, p. 239; photo findagrave.com)

Katherine Philips Edson

Overview

Katherine Philips Edson born Kenton, OH January 12, 1870 (d. 1933). California “Stateslady.” Progressive social reformer & suffrage leader. Official US delegate to history’s most successful disarmament conference, Washington Naval Treaty, 1922.

Quotations

On jury reform: “We started at the top and we must build from the bottom.” (1915; Holly McCammon et al., “On Becoming Full Citizens”, p. 11-21)

On women's political engagement: “[We] entered politics at one of the most critical times in our History. . . [and] helped to win a world war. . . [However, our] sacrifice of blood and treasure, poured out with hearts brimming with patriotism. . . [has been taken advantage of by] heartless profiteers who have grown swollen and fat off the peoples’ sorrow and sacrifice.” (Eunice Eichelberger, “Hearts Brimming with Patriotism”, in Robert Cherny, California Women in Politics, p. 309; photo wikicommons)

Amelia Earhart

Overview

Amelia Earhart born Atchison, KS July 24, 1897 (d. 1937). Famous aviator; lifelong pacifist. After seeing a Canadian soldier amputee, she volunteered as nurse in World War I, 1918. Promoted peace on national speaking tours.

Quotations

“I realized what world war meant, instead of new uniforms and brass bands I saw only the results of a four years’ desperate struggle; men without arms and legs, men who were paralyzed and men who were blind.” (Rose Duncan blog, Dec. 2, 2009; photo National Postal Museum)

Crystal Eastman

Overview

Crystal Eastman born Marlborough, MA June 25, 1881 (d. 1928). Pacifist Socialist; feminist attorney; founded Woman's Peace Party 1915; co-founded American Union Against Militarism 1914; co-founded National Civil Liberties Bureau (CLB), predecessor of ACLU 1917; stopped war with Mexico.

Quotations

"People acting directly. . . stopped that war, and can stop all wars if enough of them will act together and act quickly. . ." (Suggestions to AUAM, 1916-7; photo Wikipedia)

Sylvia Johnstone Easton

Overview

Sylvia Johnstone Easton born Alberta, Canada January 15, 1914 (d. 1990). Human rights leader; advocate for aboriginal Canadians and the homeless.

Joan Ecklein

Overview

Joan Ecklein (née Levin) born July 4, 1935. Professor of Sociology, University of Massachusetts; peace activist; author. Expert on community organization. Co-founded Women's Strike for Peace, opposing Vietnam War and nuclear weapons, 1961. Co-president of WILPF Boston. Led Raging Grannies' protest activity of knitting net around Army tank.

Quotations

“The United States government must not escape responsibility for the horrible carnage wrought upon Iraq. The people of this country, who have borne the cost of the war and its aftermath, must demand nothing less than a full accounting and full compensation by our government for the disaster that lingers after the withdrawal of most U.S. forces. It is a matter of basic morality.” (Peace & Freedom, Spring 2012, p. 11; photo webforgirls.net)

MacGregor Eddy

Overview

MacGregor Eddy born March 30, 1949. Nurse and antiwar protester. Member of WILPF, the War Resisters League, and the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. First protested against Vietnam War, 1965. Protested Gulf War, 1991, Iraq War, 2003. Arrested for nuclear missile protest, Vandenburg AFB, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011.

Quotations

"I'm not telling people to get arrested or hurt. But if people aren't willing to take risks for peace, war will always win." (July 3, 2003, Monterey County NOW)

“In the presence of this terrible wrong we must take a stand and bear witness. . . From my experience in the Vietnam war I know it makes a difference. I'm not asking people to think like me, but by my actions I am making people think about what is going on." (March 27, 2003, Monterey County NOW; photo catholicworkernews)

Marian Wright Edelman

Overview

Marian Wright Edelman born Bennettsville, SC June 6, 1939. Led Mississippi voter registration 1964-6; first Black woman admitted to state bar. Executive committee Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee 1961-3; Active promoter of nonviolence; Schweitzer Prize 1988; Merton Prize 1990; founding president of Children's Defense Fund 1973.

Quotations

"You really can change the world if you care enough. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time." (Kauffman Foundation interview; photo Childrens Defense Fund)

Donna Edwards

Overview

Donna Edwards born Yanceyville, NC June 28, 1958. Co-founder and first Director of National Network to End Domestic Violence, 1976; US Congresswoman for Maryland 2008-present. Arrested for civil disobedience in Darfur protest, 2009.

Quotations

"I will continue to be an outspoken voice to end the war in Iraq. The way forward is to start a diplomatic offensive in the region and begin to withdraw our troops now. We need a political solution, not a military solution." (Nov. 4, 2008; photo Wikipedia)

Marjorie Swann Edwin

Overview

Marjorie Swann Edwin (née Schaffer) born Cedar Rapids, IA February 15, 1921. Quaker peace activist for seven decades. New England director of AFSC; founder of CORE; Coordinator of New England Committee for Nonviolent Action. Helped organize Omaha Action against nuclear missiles, Quebec-Guantanamo Walk, Polaris Action, San Francisco-Moscow Walk. First arrested at British Embassy in Washington DC over protest against Gandhi's imprisonment; later imprisoned for six months for civil disobedience. During one jail term, underwent 22-month liquid-only fast.

Barbara Ehrenreich

Overview

Barbara Ehrenreich born Butte, MT August 26, 1941. PhD biologist; feminist and activist; Democratic Socialist; columnist who opposed Vietnam War and wrote important book Blood Rites on the nature of war 1997.

Quotations

"Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots." (The Worst Years of Our Lives, 1991; photo New York Times)

Anne H. Ehrlich

Overview

Anne H. Ehrlich born Des Moines, IA November 17, 1933. Environmental scientist. With her husband Paul, co-authored works on overpopulation and environment.

Quotations

“Even if only key military sites of a major power were targeted in a modest-sized attack, the civilian population would nevertheless suffer millions of prompt casualties from blast, fire, and radioactive fallout. . . 5 to 12 percent of its population—some 12 to 30 million in either case—could be killed by immediate effects. . . In the event of a full-scale nuclear war. . . the outlook for humanity’s future would be much bleaker than it is today.” (with John W. Birks “If Deterrence Ails: Nuclear Winter and Ultraviolet Spring”, Hidden Dangers: Environmental Consequences of Preparing for War, 1990, pp. 138, 140; photo Stabroek News)

Florence Eldridge

Overview

Florence Eldridge March (née McKechnie) born Brooklyn, NY September 5, 1901 (d. 1988). Celebrated actress, co-founder Congress of American Women (CAW) 1946 opposing Cold War, NATO and a-bomb; CAW was condemned as "Communist hoax" by Congressional un-American activities committee; leaders included wife of Republican governor Gifford Pinchot and Susan B. Anthony II.

Quotations

"[I]n view of the war danger fomented by American monopolists, American women bore a special responsibility. It stressed the need to mobilize the broadest sections of women to fight for peace. The convention demanded that the atom bomb should be outlawed. . . and the Atlantic Pact be annulled." (report of founding convention in House, "Report on Congress of American Women." p. 63, 1949; photo Wikipedia)

Martha May Eliot

Overview

Martha May Eliot born Dorchester, MA April 7, 1891 (d. 1978). Pediatrician pioneer in World Health; only woman signer of World Health Organization charter 1946; promoter of international children's health; helped found UNICEF; alternate delegate to League of Nations conference on child welfare; lifelong partner of Dr. Ethel Dunham; founded first US children's advocacy org. 1959.

Quotations

"[C]hildren have the inherent right to be safe from abuse, neglect, and violence." (1959, masskids.org; photo nlm.nih.gov)

Gloria Emerson

Overview

Gloria Emerson born New York, NY May 19, 1926 (d. 2004). New York Times war correspondent, reporting from Vietnam, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, and Gaza.

Quotations

“Americans cannot perceive—even the most decent among us—the suffering caused by the United States air war in Indochina and how huge are the graveyards we have created there. . . As Anthony Lewis once wrote, our military technology is so advanced that we kill at a distance and insulate our consciences by the remoteness of the killing.” (NY Review, Aug. 10, 1972; photo PBS)

Eve Ensler

Overview

Eve Ensler born Scarsdale, NY May 25, 1953. Playwright author of anti-violence play "The Vagina Monologues" (2000); pacifist author and filmmaker opposed Afghanistan and Iraq wars; danced can-can at Nevada nuclear test site in 1987 protesting resumption of nuclear tests.

Quotations

"We all have the capacity for great goodness and love, and we all have the capacity for terrible deeds." (Janelle Brown interview, Nov. 26, 2001; photo Wikipedia)

Mary Eoloff

Overview

Mary Eoloff (née Bunting) born February 25, 1932 (d. 2014) Quaker teacher and peace activist. Founded Minnesota Pax Christi, 1980; co-founded Peace Studies Task Force; active in Newman Overground Railroad. Protested School of the Americas; member of Middle East Peace Now; took 13 trips to Israel to adopt Mordechai Vanunu; supported people of Guatemala and Palestine. Opposed nuclear weapons.

Quotations

"Here we have this beautiful world. . . the idea of destroying it in an afternoon is insane." (Paynesville Press, Jan. 15, 2003; photo startribune.com)

Marie Equi

Overview

Marie Diana Equi born New Bedford, MA April 7, 1872 (d. 1952). Pediatrician, "The stormy petrel of the Northwest," openly lesbian, anarchist arrested with Margaret Sanger for giving birth control info 1916; arrested again for antiwar protest, convicted of sedition after war for antiwar agitation 1918, served half of 3 year sentence in San Quentin prison.

Quotations

"PREPARE TO DIE, WORKINGMEN, J.P. MORGAN & CO. WANT PREPAREDNESS FOR PROFIT" (June 27, 1918, Portland; photo nlm.nih.gov)

Alona Elizabeth Evans

Overview

Alona Elizabeth Evans born Providence, RI February 27, 1917 (d. 1980). International lawyer; expert on terrorism and extradition. Professor at Wellesley College, 1945; first female president of American Society of International Law, 1972.

Elizabeth Glendower Evans

Overview

Elizabeth Glendower Evans born New Rochelle, NY February 28, 1856 (d. 1937). Socialist; penal reformer. Co-founder of WILPF. Publicized socialist causes, including the plight of Lawrence textile strikers, and the criminal trial of anarchists Sacco & Vanzetti. Sacco's last words, "Farewell, Mother," were addressed to her.