Deborah Norris Logan

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Overview

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Deborah Norris Logan born Philadelphia, PA October 29, 1761 (d. 1831). Quaker chronicler of her husband Dr. George Logan’s peace missions to France, 1798, England, 1808. The first succeeded in freeing US ships but brought about the Logan Act, barring private peacemaking; the second failed.

Quotations

On the War of 1812: “A war [could] have been prevented, which (not to count the treasure expended) has cost the lives of many brave and faithful citizens, and destroyed the hopes of many families, besides leaving the bloody footprints of hatred and revenge, which it will take years of peace and philanthropy, to obliterate.” (Memoir of Dr. George Logan, p. 116; portrait wikipedia)

Josephine Shaw Lowell

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Overview

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Josephine “Effie” Shaw Lowell born West Roxbury, MA December 16, 1843 (d. 1905). “Grand Dame of the Social Reformers.” Civil War widow; leading woman opponent of US imperialism and Spanish-American and Philippine Wars. Vice-President, Anti-Imperialist League.

Quotations

“When the people of the United States consent to deprive another people of its rights and liberties, they strike a terrific blow at the foundations upon which stand their own rights and liberties. . . We paid a bitter price to free ourselves from the sin of slavery, and the nation will again pay a bitter price to free itself from the sin of empire, if, driven by fear of financial distress or lured by hope of wealth, it now deserts its ancient ideals.” (John E. Hanson bio. in Social Welfare History Project; photo Wikipedia)

Eleanor Leacock

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Overview

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Eleanor Leacock born Weehawken, NJ July 2, 1922 (d. 1987). Anthropology professor; peace researcher. Antiwar, anti-imperialist, feminist, pro-indigenous rights, disarmament advocate. Humanist Marxist. Founded Anthropologists for Radical Political Action (ARPA), 1972.

Quotations

“Humanity did not evolve from an innately aggressive forebear as postulated by Thomas Hobbes. By hindsight it is clear that it could not have done so. The basis for the successful evolution of human beings was the group life that both required and made possible cooperative patterns. In turn, cooperation led to and became dependent upon the development refined tools and utensils, and the elaboration of language.” (Gender in Egalitarian Societies”, online Washburn Univ; photo upclosed.com)

Yvonne Logan

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Overview

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Yvonne Logan (née Westrate) born Holland, MI December 8, 1919 (d. 2017). Peace activist. President, US WILPF, 1981-85. Co-founded St. Louis Peace Center, 1975; it later became World Community Center, where she served as director. Led Baby Tooth Survey of nuclear fallout, 1958; AFSC draft counselor in Vietnam War. Multiple arrests for antiwar protests.

Quotations

“I just got this conversion moment that I was going to spend my life on this issue, and I have.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jun. 28, 2017; photo legacy.com)

Helen Lauritzen

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Overview

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Helen Lauritzen born November 27, 1937. Founded Seattle Peace Choir in opposition to the Cold War, 1983. Friendship trips to USSR, 1985, 1988; Chile, 1995; Cuba, 1999; Venezuela, 2007.

Quotations

“The Seattle Peace Chorus began in 1983. It was a time of growing concern about the nuclear arms race. Through our songs, we urged people to build a world of greater understanding and cooperation. . . it was obvious we both believed in the power of music to move the human spirit.” (1985 interview, Peace Song; photo Peninsula Daily News)

Tamara Lorincz

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Overview

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Tamara Lorincz (née Moday) born Edmonton, Alberta, Canada March 17, 1959. Canadian peace leader; member of national board Canadian Voice of Women, WILPF, Pugwash Group. Co-founded Vancouver Island Peace & Disarmament Network, 2016.

Quotations

“NATO is a wrecking ball. . . a transatlantic alliance that violates international law and undermines the UN. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO’s military interventions have fueled instability and insecurity in Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.” (Chronicle Herald, Apr. 25, 2019; photo Balsillie School)

Scarlett Lewis

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Overview

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Scarlett Lewis born Fayetteville, AK June 19, 1968. Founded Choose Love movement in response to murder of her 6-year-old son in Sandy Hook school massacre, 2012.

Quotations

“My message has been the same for five years. This is what I’ve been doing consistently, since a few weeks after Jesse’s murder. It all started when I found a message that Jesse had left on the chalkboard in our kitchen. I found it a few days after his murder. He had written three words: 'nurturing healing love.' I knew immediately that if Adam Lanza, our shooter, had been able to give and receive nurturing, healing love, that the tragedy never would have happened. I knew it would be my mission in life to spread this message.” (The Atlantic, Mar. 28, 2018; photo Seattle Times)

Margaret Laurence

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Overview

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Margaret Laurence (née Jean Margaret Weymss) born Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada July 18, 1926 (d. 1987). Canadian author and peace activist. Leader of Project Ploughshares & Operation Dismantle against cruise missiles; Director of Energy Probe on nuclear power 1982-85. Publicly rebuked Prime Minister Trudeau for US military overflights. Co-founded Arts for Peace; sympathetically portrayed life in Ghana and Somaliland.

Quotations

And may we learn
We are one People
In our only home
Earth. Amen.
(“Prayer for Peace”; portrait by Lezley Davidson)

Belle Case La Follette

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Overview

Belle Case La Follette born Summit, WI April 21, 1859 (d. 1931). Progressive lawyer, suffragist and journalist; co-founded Women's Peace Party 1917, WILPF 1915, Women's Committee for World Disarmament 1921, National Council for Prevention of War 1921; opposed US entry into World War I, conscription and Espionage Act.

Quotations

To the Senate, citing Lincoln's words about the government of for and by the people: "Are not women people?" (1913; photo Wikipedia)

Gloria La Riva

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Overview

Gloria La Riva born Albuquerque, NM August 13, 1954. Peace and Freedom presidential candidate 2016, winning 60,990 votes; Peace and Freedom candidate for Calif. Governor 1994, 1998; strongly opposes US militarism and wars.

Quotations

“The wars waged by the U.S. in Korea, Vietnam, Central America, and the Middle East have all been wars of aggression. . . the Guantánamo prison and military base must be immediately shut down.”

“A socialist government would take the initiative to dismantle all nuclear weapons. Its foreign policy would be based on friendship, self-determination, and solidarity with other countries rather than the current one of threats and aggression against many countries. I call for the dismantling of the military-industrial complex, stop the sales of weapons around the world, end U.S. aid to Israel and support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right of return.” (interview, Oct. 10, 2016, Independent Political Report; photo peaceandfreedom.org)

Joyce Ladner

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Overview

Joyce Ladner born Battles, MS October 12, 1943. Sociologist; acting President of Howard University; Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee organizer, 1960s; authority on Tanzanian women.

Quotations

"When we got into SNCC I would have been ready to fight some guy if he said, 'You can't do this because you're a woman,' I would have said, 'What the hell are you talking about?' A lot of the women in SNCC were very, very tough and independent-minded. . . We assumed we were equal." (Freedom's Daughters, p. 266; photo 1963 Vets of Civil Rights)

Winona LaDuke

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Overview

Winona LaDuke born Los Angeles, CA August 18, 1959. Native American (Anishinaabeg) Vice Presidential candidate for Green Party 1996, 2000; founded Indigenous Women's Network 1985; Reebok Human Rights Award 1998.

Quotations

"I will call for a demilitarization of American Foreign Policy, including closing down the School of the Americas, and to stop the major flow of American military aid to countries like Colombia. I would work to create self-sustaining peace and promote a dignified equity in Third World countries, including 100 percent debt relief. I will work for the establishment of a Peace and Reconciliation Commission modeled after South Africa's." (Indian Country, July 22, 2000; photo pcc.edu)

Marcela Lagarde

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Overview

Marcela Lagarde y de los Ríos born Mexico City, Mexico December 30, 1948. Marxist feminist and anthropology professor. Created concept of femicide, murder of women with government complicity. As Congresswoman, investigated femicide, 2004-06.

Quotations

“There is an undeclared war, called gender violence, of men over women, and the state has been key to the violence. . . We do not fight against violence, but work for PEACE.” (Evangilisers of the Apostles, Nov. 1, 2015)

“Feminism is a proposal of humanity.” (Shelly Grabe, Narrating a Psychology of Resistance, p. 128)

“The sum total of crimes against humanity consisting of criminal acts, kidnappings and disappearances affecting girls and women in a context of institutional collapse.” (report of Congress, in Eur. Parliament, Oct. 19, 2007; photo uv.es)

Christine Lahti

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Overview

Christine Lahti born Birmingham, MI April 4, 1950. Actress and film producer. Spoke out against nuclear weapons, 1986; portrayed Vietnam War napalm protestor/fugitive in Running On Empty, 1988. Actively opposed Iraq War in Lysistrata Project, 2003; sent pink slip to White House, 2003; participated in Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day against war, 2009.

Quotations

"Cindy Sheehan is my hero. She is the hero of all Americans who make up the 62% of us who oppose this war." (Huffington Post, August 11, 2005; photo Wikipedia)

Harriet Burton Laidlaw

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Overview

Harriet Davenport Burton Laidlaw born Albany, NY December 16, 1873 (d. 1949). Suffragist; founded League of Nations Non-Partisan Association, 1922; Chair of Women's Pro-League Council, 1921; leader of American Association for the UN; promoter of Jeannette Rankin; great orator.

Quotations

"Only through mastery of the subject and devotion to a cause, added to human understanding, can ever make a speaker." (Brigance, Great Speakers; photo anon. Findagrave)

Myrna Lamb

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Overview

Myrna Lamb born Newark, NJ August 3, 1935. Feminist playwright led United Women's Contingent in massive protest of 500,000 against Vietnam War 1971.

Quotations

"[Women] have participated in and been key organizers of every antiwar march, just as we have been perhaps the most effective force in every movement for social change, in the history of the world. Most importantly, as long as this war continues, we cannot have the control over our lives which we need and are determined to have. As women, we constitute 53% of the population—we can be a powerful force in ending the war. Women in this country are challenging the right of the U.S. government to wage a war of slaughter and destruction in Indochina while it denies the needs of women at home." (April 24 flyer, Duke Univ. archives; photo doollee.com)

Ellen Newbold LaMotte

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Overview

Ellen Newbold La Motte born Louisville, KY November 27, 1873 (d. 1961). Nurse; anti-opium crusader; anti-imperialist; experienced World War I as nurse in France.

Quotations

"We are witnessing a phase in the evolution of humanity, a phase called War—and the slow, onward progress stirs up the slime in the shallows, and this is the Backwash of War. It is very ugly. There are many little lives foaming up in the backwash. They are loosened by the sweeping current, and float to the surface, detached from their environment, and one glimpses them, weak, hideous, repellent. After the war, they will consolidate again into the condition called Peace. After this war, there will be many other wars, and in the intervals there will be peace. So it will alternate for many generations. By examining the things cast up in the backwash, we can gauge the progress of humanity. When clean little lives, when clean little souls boil up in the backwash, they will consolidate, after the final war, into a peace that shall endure. But not till then." (Backwash of War, 1916, intro.; photo c. 1902 by Mesny in Johns Hopkins Med Archives)