Nancy Kurshan

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Overview

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Nancy Kurshan born Brooklyn, NY February 4, 1944. Co-founder of Yippies (Youth International Party), 1964; organizer of Mobe (National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam), 1967. Arrested in Pentagon protest. Took part in all-women’s trip to North Vietnam, 1970; protested Iraq War, 2003.

Quotations

“Here we call it the Vietnam War. The Vietnamese more accurately call it the American War. After all, the U.S. was the aggressor. It was our troops that landed on their soil; our planes that bombed their cities and sprayed Agent Orange; our army massacred their civilians, women and children included.” (Counterpunch, Oct. 24, 2017; photo hdwallsource)

Rebecca Kabugho

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Overview

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Rebecca Kabugho born Goma, North Kivu, DR Congo September 4, 1994. Human rights activist. Founded nonviolent movement LUCHA (Struggle for Change), 2012. Arrested for insurrection, 2016; imprisoned six months; arrested again, 2016. Received International Women of Conscience Award, 2017.

Quotations

“I hope that all the women who are here will fight to change their countries. We can change the Congo. We can change the world. Without us, it will not be done. Hand in hand, we will make the world a better place.” (May 22, 2017; Women of Courage Award; photo ibtimes.co.uk)

Ekaterina Karavelova

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Overview

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Ekaterina Karavelova (née Peneva) born Rouschuk, Bulgaria, Otttoman Empire October 21, 1860 (d. 1947). Bulgarian peace leader, feminist, and teacher. Co-founded Bulgarian Women’s Union, 1901; organized relief in Russo-Japanese War, 1905, and Balkan Wars, 1912-13. Founded Traen Mir (Lasting Peace). Joined WILPF, 1919, becoming national president. Promoted Balkan unity and Union Panerova.

Quotations

“No woman wants war.” (Regine Bowden, Ahead of Her Time, p. 97, in de Haan, bio. Dict. Women’s Movements, p. 233)

“I plead for justice, that is to say—Worldwide peace. Because we still do not have it. . . our ideal is not peace, which is signed by governments that do not know the actual interests of people, but peace of true democracy.” (Washington DC, May 1, 1924, Ingrid Sharp, Women Activists, p. 89; photo adio Bulgaria)

Sherin Khankan

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Overview

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Sherin Khankan born Denmark October 13, 1974. Muslim feminist. First Danish female imam; founded Mariam Mosque, Copenhagen, 2016. Led nonviolent campaign to counter anti-immigration movement by face-to-face confrontation.

Quotations

“Everything starts with language, so we need to challenge the narrative around the title. . . You can take a notorious title and give it a totally different meaning by changing the narrative. To change the narrative, you have to create something which decredits the existing one.” (Girls Are Awesome, Apr. 11, 2017; photo themuslimtimes.info)

Lorraine Krofchok

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Overview

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Lorraine Krofchok born August 11, 1941. Director of Grandmothers for Peace International. Took part in nonviolent protests at School of Americas, 1998; Livermore Lab, 2002; against Iraq War, 2002.

Quotations

“We believe it is imperative to foster in the next generation of world leaders the principles of non-violence and responsibility for their community and the world. . . The abolition of nuclear weapons and all weapons of mass destruction remain a top priority.” (Join Us 2017; photo SOA watch)

Freya Klier

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Overview

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Freya Klier born Dresden, East Germany February 4, 1950. Leading East German dissident; author, stage director, and documentary filmmaker. Served one year of 16-month prison term for attempt to escape East Germany, 1969. Founding member of Pankow Peace Circle, 1981; it contributed to nonviolent dissolution of East German state and fall of Berlin Wall. Arrested for treason and deported, 1988; after reunification she led fight against persistent racism.

Quotations

“My eleventh commandment: ‘Thou shalt remember.’" (photo freya-klier)

Yayoi Kusama

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Overview

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Yayoi Kusama born Matsumoto, Japan March 22, 1929. Japanese antiwar visual artist. “Accumulation of Corpses”, 1950; live performance “Anatomic Explosion” at Wall Street, against Vietnam War funding, 1968. Antiwar “Naked happening” protest on Brooklyn Bridge, 1968; ”War, Tidal Waves of War”, 1975; “Graves of the Unknown Soldiers”, 1977. “Revived Soul” for Hiroshima victims, 1995.

Quotations

“You can’t eradicate violence by using more violence.” (letter to Richard Nixon, 1968)

“I made my art to try and change people’s minds about the love in the world that can last forever.” (Infinity, circa 1968, in Dazed, Oct. 8, 2018; photo wikipedia)

Mary Kelsey

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Overview

Mary Kelsey born St. Louis, MO June 15, 1877 (d. 1948). Pacifist; suffragist; writer for pacifist journal. Quaker relief worker with AFSC refugees in France WWI; fed German children postwar; founding Executive Secretary Honfleur Peace Conferences, 1923-25; early member Fellowship of Reconciliation.

Quotations

One of those who won the Peace Prize of 1947
Blessed are the Peacemakers, Children of God
(epitaph, Shirley, MA.)

“One would naturally suppose that the war with all its dreadful trend of misery and death and subsequent disaster and loss must have so impressed those who experienced it that there would be a spontaneous movement at its close to ensure its non-repetition. Nothing is further from the truth.” (“The Stigma”, The World Tomorrow, Nov. 1921, p. 332)

Sigrid Kaag

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Overview

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Sigrid Kaag born Rijswick, Netherlands November 2, 1961. Dutch diplomat, known as “The Iron Lady.” Served roles in UNICEF, UNWRRA, UNDP. Headed UN mission to destroy Syrian chemical weapons, 2013. UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon during Syria War, 2014. Awarded Carnegie-Wateler Peace Prize, 2016.

Quotations

“Women play a key role in development, peace and security.” (Oct. 22, 2015, UNSCOL; photo un.org)

Raya Kadyrova

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Overview

Raisa “Raya” Kadyrova born Kyrgyzstan March 28, 1957. Kyrgyz peacemaker. Oversaw tolerance education project for UN High Commissioner of Refugees, 1993. Founding president of Foundation for Tolerance International (FTI), 1998. Promoted nonviolence in Central Asian republics, helping to defuse tensions during Batken War, 1999-2000.

Quotations

“I would like Kyrgyzstan to become an example for peace, equality and tolerance in the entire region.” (No Women No Peace exhibition, 1000peacewomen; photo World People's Blog)

Dorothy C. Kahn

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Overview

Dorothy C. Kahn born Seattle, WA August 15, 1893 (d. 1955). International social worker; Chief of UN Social Welfare promoting human rights and economic welfare 1950-55; began biennial Report on the World Social Situation (RWSS); delegate to international conference on child welfare.

Quotations

"The ultimate social cost of poverty, ill health, and idleness are bound to be greater than the immediate cost of prevention and care." (Dec. 1940 report to Congress; photo Wikipedia)

Kaarina Kailo

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Overview

Kaarina Kailo born Helsinki, Finland August 31, 1951. Professor Women’s Studies; feminist advocate of peaceful education; grassroots peace activist.

Quotations

“There will be no peace and sustainable ways of living until boys too are taught to adopt the 'softer' feminine values of recognizing their interdependency, human vulnerability and responsibility towards all forms of life. The male creators of the Hiroshima bomb also called it their 'baby.'” (“Honor, Shame”, June 18, 2003; photo kaarinakailo.info)

Indira Kajosevic

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Overview

Indira Kajosevic born Podgorica, Montenegro June 7, 1966. Co-founder of Serbian Women in Black 1991; Executive director Reconciliation and Culture Cooperative Network (RACCOON, New York 1997. Coordinator Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, 2002-03; Amer. Friends Service Committee refugee consultant 1994-99; leader Women in Black vigil, New York.

Quotations

"People usually understand and relate to each other. They share their humanity." (New York Daily News, July 2, 2008)

“[Y]ou're really in a business to make sure that people understand that  it is not only yourself who believes that peace is possible and that the only way people can achieve peace is that they live their own lives without violence and don't accept violent means as a way to resolve conflict.” (Julian Portillo interview, 2003; photo nydailynews)

Mariatu Kamara

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Overview

Mariatu Kamara born Magboru, Sierra Leone May 26, 1986. UNICEF Special Envoy for Children in Armed Conflict; both hands cut off with machete by boy civil war rebels when she was 12.

Quotations

On the boy soldiers who cut off her hands: "I just think it's time to let go. . . Forgive them. They are also our brothers. They suffered, too." (Toronto Star, Sep. 2, 2008; photo glogster)

Marjon V. Kamara

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Overview

Marjon V. Kamara born Monrovia, Liberia August 13, 1949. Director of UN High Commission for Refugees in Africa 2005-09; ambassador to UN 2009; UN commission on postwar capacities 2010.

Quotations

"[C]ountries emerging from conflict often face a critical shortage of the capacities needed to secure sustainable peace. . . Nor is the international community doing enough to nurture national capacities." (March 11, 2011; photo frontpageafrica)

Bothaina Kamel

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Overview

Bothaina Kamel born Cairo, Egypt April 18, 1962. Egyptian TV anchor; first woman to run for president 2011; leader from start of Tahrir square protests, forming shield for male activists; opposed sectarian violence against Copts; social democrat.

Quotations

"When we took to the streets we said, ‘Peaceful, peaceful.’ We did not say, 'Revolutionary, revolutionary.'" (International Herald Tribune, June 15, 2011; photo maggiejeans.com)