Women peacemakers born today

1795 Sidney Ann Lewis born Wilmington, DE (d. 1882). Quaker; abolitionist leader. Founded American Anti-Slavery Society, Philadelphia, 1833.
1808 Sybil Jones born Brunswick, ME (d. 1873). Powerful Quaker orator. Founded Ramallah School in Palestine, 1869.
1856 Elizabeth Glendower Evans born New Rochelle, NY (d. 1937). Socialist; penal reformer. WILPF founding member. 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.
1942 Fidelma O'Kelly Macken born Ireland. First female judge appointed to the European Court of Justice, 1999-2004; Irish Supreme Court justice, 2005-2012.
1946 Valentina Melnikova born Moscow. Founding head of Committee of Soldiers Mothers of Russia (CSMR), 1989; chair of United People's Party of Soldiers' Mothers. Received Sean MacBride Peace Prize, 1995.
1954 Julia Sebutinde born Entebbe, Uganda. Trainer in peace and conflict resolution; Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 1996. First female African judge appointed to World Court, 2012; presided over trial of Charles Taylor for war crimes.

Women's peacemaking on this day

1908 First National Women's Day celebrated in New York City by female members of the Socialist Party of America.

1918 Elizabeth and Margaret Paine forced by mob to kiss flag during World War I, Trenton, NJ.
1932 Maude Royden proposed a Peace Army to stop Japanese aggression in Manchuria.

1968 Auroville, a city in India dedicated to peace and unity, founded by Mirra Alfassa.

1993 Two women from the Global Peace Farmers organization arrested at Concord Naval Station.
2000 94-year-old Louise Franklin-Ramirez was arrested at Supreme Court in death penalty protest.