Petra Finsterle-Häbler born Zürich, Switzerland December 24, 1952 (d. 2012). German peace activist; second-generation WILPF; cabaret performer, gymnastics teacher; founded radical alternative cabaret Club Voltaire Munich 2001; organizer anti-SIKO protest against NATO 2009 (photo plus.google.com)
Shulamith Firestone (née Feuerstein) born Ottawa, Canada January 7, 1945 (d. 2012). U.S.leader of second-wave feminism 1968; broke with Jeannette Rankin Brigade antiwar protest DC to bury “Traditional Feminism” in torchlight at Arlington Cemetery, demanded that women resist war as citizens, not women.
“We must learn to fight the warmongers on their own terms, though they believe us capable only of rolling bandages. Until we have united into a force to be reckoned with, we will be patronized and ridiculed into total political ineffectiveness. So if you are really sincere about ending this war, join us tonight and in the future.” (invitation, Jan. 15, 1968; “Jeannette Rankin Brigade”; photo inthesetimes.com)
Ruth First born Johannesburg, South Africa May 4, 1925 (d. 1982). Journalist and author, Communist editor; anti-Apartheid leader assassinated by bomb sent by South African security forces; arrested for treason 1956; interned 117 days, and exiled 1963.
Nelson Mandela’s Aug. 17, 1992 tribute: "Ruth spent her life in the service of the people of Southern Africa. She went to prison for her beliefs. She was murdered because of her acute political acumen combined with her resolute refusal to abandon her principles. Her life, and her death, remains a beacon to all who love liberty." (Aug. 17, 1993; photo brandeis.edu)
Bernice Fisher born Punxsutawney, PA December 8, 1916 (d. 1966). "Godmother of the restaurant 'sit-in' technique." Civil rights activist and labor organizer. Socialist; Baptist pacifist; Gandhian nonviolent resistance advocate. Head of Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), Chicago chapter. Founding member of Committee of Racial Equality (CORE), 1942. Took part in one of first American sit-ins at Jack Spratt’s Coffee Shop, Chicago, 1943.
On James Farmer’s idea of nonviolent action: “Thank God! At last, we may be able to turn this nation around. It’s the most exciting idea I’ve ever heard!” (Victory without Violence, p.21; photo Wikipedia)
Welthy Honsinger Fisher born Rome, NY September 18, 1879 (d. 1980). American missionary, friend of Gandhi; established literacy centers in Allahabad, Lucknow at Gandhi’s request 1947; founded World Education 1951 in 50 countries; founded World Literacy Canada 1955, including "The Gandhi Way" about social justice issues that children experience in their everyday life such as violence, poverty, and gender discrimination; "Asian Nobel Prize" Magsaysay Award for peace and international understanding 1964; began as headmistress girl’s school Nanchang 1906.
"I love the world and I love people." (New York Times, Sept. 19, 1974; photo schugurensky.faculty.asu.edu)
Ingrid Fiskaa born Bryne, Norway April 16, 1977. Norwegian politician and peace activist. Socialist Left Deputy in Parliament, 1997-2005, 2009-13. Spokesperson for Peace Initiative Against Iraq War, 2002-03; led protest against troops in Iraq, 2005. Led Peace Initiative, 2005-06. State Secretary for Environment and International Development, 2009; chaired Peace Support Group in Nepal, 2011. Led protests against NATO presence in Afghanistan.
“We believe Bush is responsible both for the illegal war in Iraq and for the many war crimes in the aftermath of war.” (Nettavisen, March 17, 2006; photo arkiv.attac.no)
Mary Eleanor “Fitzi” Fitzgerald born Deerfield, WI March 16, 1877 (d. 1955). American theater professional, associate of Emma Goldman; pacifist anarchist opposed to World War I; co-founded No Conscription League 1917; co-founded and managed anarchist magazine The Blast, 1916; Assistant Editor, Mother Earth; member of feminist debate circle Heterodoxy; director Provincetown Players.
“The stupidity of law is best illustrated in the fact that all those who dared speak in favor of simple birth control method were jailed and fined; yet the most violent birth control method—War, is being hailed and sanctioned by that very law.” (Mother Earth, Aug. 1917, p. 198; photo uk.pinterest.com)
Jeanette Fitzsimons born Dunedin, New Zealand January 17, 1945. Environmentalist; first woman co-leader Green Party; member of parliament, 1996-2010. Founded Campaign for Climate Change; introduced bill to extend prohibition of nuclear weapons.
"[I]n the end there is no security from nuclear materials unless there is security for everyone. It was, rather, to take another tiny step towards a nuclear free South Pacific and, eventually, a nuclear free world." (in Parliament, May 29, 2002; photo Wikipedia)
Colette Flesch born Dudelange, Luxembourg April 16, 1937. President of Council of Europe 1980; Foreign Minister of Luxembourg 1980-4; Director-General European Commission 1990-1999 during four important events: united Germany joined EU, Maastricht Treaty 1992, single market 1993, Austria, Finland and Sweden joined EU; European Community observer of Rwandan elections 2003.
"For us it [the fall of the Berlin Wall] was the reunification of Europe. . . One felt that Europe was restored." (SR Online, Oct. 22, 2010; photo Wikipedia)
Alice Cunningham Fletcher born Havana, Cuba March 15, 1838 (d. 1923). American anthropologist; Indian rights reformer; chronicler of Indian peacemaking. Convinced Congress to pass Omaha land allotment, 1882.
"‘Not all white men are bad, there are some good ones.’ He [Wajapa] replied, ‘Perhaps so, a few.’ I responded, ‘I don’t wonder that you think them all bad, your people have been wronged by white men.’" (Diary, Sep. 21, 1881; photo Wikipedia)
Vaiba Kebeh Flomo born Margibi County, Liberia April 9, 1967. Liberian peacemaker. Co-founded Christian Women Peace Initiative (CWPI), 2002. Organized large-scale nonviolent protests with Liberian Women Mass Action for Peace, 2003. Joined women’s delegation to peace talks for civil conflicts, Accra, 2003. Interviewed in documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell as a member of Liberian delegation to UN Commission on Status of Women, 2007. Rode Peace Train to promote violence-free elections, Sierra Leone, 2007. Advised NGO Reconcile on peacebuilding, South Sudan, 2009. Joined Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice Women PeaceMakers Program, 2010. Accepted Cinema for Peace foundation award on behalf of Pray the Devil Back to Hell, 2009.
“In time of war, women and children suffer most and The bullet cannot pick and choose. Once it is in the air it is not looking for a Christian, it is not looking for a Muslim. It comes to anyone.” (2001, in Sara Koenders, “The Bullet Cannot Pick or Choose”, p. 34)
“If women are the primary victims of violence they should get involved, because the one that feels the pain knows how to describe it to people. If we work through these women we can succeed in stopping the violence.” (Koenders, p. 29; photo sandiego.edu)
Lella Secor Florence (née Lella Faye Secor) born Battle Creek, MI February 13, 1887 (d. 1966). Militant pacifist; journalist. Served as reporter aboard Henry Ford Peace Ship, 1915; war resister during World War I; co-founded Emergency Peace Federation, 1917. Member of British chapter of WILPF.
"Women are near revolt—The time has come to liberate our slave wives." (Birmingham Sun Mercury, May 26, 1946; late 1920s photo http://bit.ly/JKSm57)
Mary Anne Grady Flores born December 29, 1966. Arrested for repeated drone protests at Hancock AFB, sentenced to one year in prison.
"I am going to be fine in jail. I'm going to find wonderful community in there, people of faith. I'm going to be with the poor, and that's where Christ asks us to be, and so with 2 million people that are in prison in the United States, and with that number growing, I will be in solidarity with them." (National Catholic Reporter, July 16, 2014; photo Ithaca Week)
Emilia Fogelklou-Norlind born Simrishamn, Sweden July 20, 1878 (d. 1972). Swedish theologian, feminist, women's historian, teacher, pacifist; one of first Quakers in Sweden 1931; early member of WILPF and International Fellowship of Reconciliation.
"There is light still." (epitaph, Malmö; photo sv.wikipedia)
Eliza Lee Cabot Follen born Boston, MA August 15, 1787 (d. 1860). Nonviolent abolitionist leader, poet and children's author; opposed Mexican War.
On the Mexican War: "[V]ile and vindictive. . . robbery, falsehood and cruelty." ("The Cranberry Pasture." 1846)
"Are not women the greatest sufferers from slavery?" (Liberty Bell, 1842; photo Mass. Hist. Society)
Jane Fonda born Manhattan, NY December 21, 1937. American actress; Vietnam War protester, 1969; made visit to Hanoi, July 1972; organized G.I. Office, Free the Army troupe, Indo China Peace Campaign; twice arrested, accused of treason.
"[American] weapons are illegal and that's not just rhetoric. . . The men who are ordering you to use these weapons are war criminals according to international law, and in the past, in Germany and Japan, men who committed these kinds of crimes were tried and executed." (Hanoi, July 14, 1972; 2007 photo wikicom pd)
Nicole Fontaine born Normandy, France January 16, 1942. First woman president of European Parliament, 1999-2001. Urged Parliament to endorse, "positive non-violent measures to be put in place once the military action in Afghanistan is over." (World Tibet Network News, Oct. 30, 2001)
"The policy of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth will lead to total disaster." (May 19, 2000)
"History has also taught us that the use of force and the will to power are not the lasting, peaceful and constructive solutions which our peoples long for." (June 20, 2001; photo Wikipedia)
Henriette “Henni” Forchhammer born Aalborg, Denmark March 8, 1863 (d. 1955). Danish linguist and internationalist; WILPF founding member. Co-founded Danish National Women’s Council, 1899; served as its president, 1913-31. First woman to address League of Nations, 1920; Danish delegate to League of Nations, 1923-37. Delegate to Hague conference at which women appealed for arbitration, 1907; delegate to Ford peace conference, Stockholm, 1916. Traveled to Syria to aid Armenian refugees; presented petition of 400,000 women for disarmament, 1932.
“Gentlemen, I appeal to you to ask your Governments to introduce legislation which prevents traffic of women and children. This traffic is a blot on civilization and is often criticized by nations which we call uncivilized.” (Dec. 15, 1920 to League Assembly; photo Wikipedia)
Isabella Ford born Headingley, Leeds, England May 23, 1855 (d. 1924). English social reformer; suffragist; Quaker; labor organizer. Lifelong pacifist who opposed World War I; WILPF founding member.
"Women have more to lose in the horrible business than some men have; for they often lose more than life itself when their men are killed; since they lose all that makes life worth living for, all that makes for happiness. . . [T]he destruction of the human race too is felt more bitterly and more deeply by those who through suffering and anguish have brought the human race into the world." (Leeds Weekly Citizen, March 12, 1915; photo spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk)
Ita Ford born Brooklyn, NY April 23, 1940 (d. 1980). Maryknoll nun active in Bolivia, Chile and El Salvador. Tortured, raped, and murdered by National Guard soldiers, El Salvador, 1980.
"The Committee fears that decisive action will be taken by our [American] government under the guise of 'stopping communism'—and that all of Central America will be involved if it happens. It's a heavy scene—but if we have a preferential option for the poor as well as a commitment for justice as a basis for the coming of the Kingdom, we're going to have to take sides in El Salvador—correction—we have." (1980 letter to Maryknoll President; photo Wikipedia)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
