Isabella Fyvie Mayo

Overview

Isabella Fyvie Mayo born London, England December 10, 1843 (d. 1914). Scottish novelist, poet, and suffragist. Anti-imperialist, anti-racist; pacifist; ethical anarchist; Tolstoyan, “soul-mate of Gandhi.” Co-founded Society for the Recognition of the Universal Brotherhood of Man, 1893. Protested conscription and Boer War.

Quotations

“Let not thy peace depend on the tongues of men; for whether they judge well of thee or ill, thou art not on that account other than thyself. Where are true peace and true glory? Are they not in God?” (By Still Waters, pseud. Garrett, 1883; photo geni.com)

Ruth Morgan

Overview

Ruth Morgan born Staatsburg, NY October 12, 1870 (d. 1934). Peace lobbyist. Chair, International Alliance of Women's Committee for Peace and the League of Nations, Geneva, 1926. Chair, Department of International Cooperation for the Prevention of War, National League of Women Voters, which supported World Court, 1924, and Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928.

Quotations

“The great proposal of the Secretary of State to enter into a general treaty which shall renounce war as an instrument of policy is so challenging as to almost escape our understanding. We mean, however, not only to understand but to support it with all our strength.” (New York Times, Apr. 28, 1928; photo library of congress, 1924)

Helena Maleno

Overview

Helena Maleno Garzón born El Ejido, Almeria, Spain August 1, 1970. Spanish journalist and human rights activist in Morocco. Founded Caminando Fronteras (“Walking Borders”) against trafficking of women, 2007, saving lives of thousands of migrants.

Quotations

“There is a war taking place at European borders. . . In this [war], there are. . . zones in which fundamental human rights have been [trampled].” (Fund for Global Human Rights, Dec. 17, 2017)

“I am calm and I am strong because I know that all I have done is defend the right to life of people who cross borders.” (Guardian, Jul. 10, 2018; photo twitter.com)

Betty Reid Mandell

Overview

Betty Reid Mandell born Denver, CO November 4, 1924 (d. 2014). Professor of social work. Editor of democratic socialist journal New Politics. Opposed Vietnam War, Iraq Wars, Gaza bombing, hostility to Iran. (photo bostonglobe.com)

Mary Stone McDowell

Overview

Mary Stone McDowell born Jersey City, NJ March 22, 1876 (d. 1955). Quaker; Latin teacher fired for refusing to promote war bonds in class. Co-founded Pacifist Teachers League opposing WWII, 1940; co-founded Peacemakers against Cold War and nuclear weapons, 1948. Refused war taxes.

Quotations

“I believe that war is wicked and contrary to our democratic faith. . . and it is also contrary to our Christian faith which teaches us to overcome evil with good. Moreover, in the atomic age and in an interdependent world, even victorious war could only bring disaster to our own country as well as others. War preparations and threats of atomic war cannot give us security. True patriotism calls for world-wide cooperation for human welfare and immediate steps toward universal disarmament through the United Nations.” (letter to IRS, 1954, in The Picket Line, “Non-Communist Demonstrators”; photo Mary McDowell Friends School)

Zorica Mršević

Overview

Zorica Mršević born Belgrad, Serbia October 7, 1954. Law professor, feminist, human rights activist. National Deputy Ombudsman, 2008-11.

Quotations

“The opposite of war is not peace, but creativity.” (2000, in Sandra Morgen, ed., Security Disarmed, p. 45)

“The tolerance of domestic violence in Serbian society contributed to the proliferation of atrocities committed by combatants on and off the battlefield. In other words, we have here the famous question: ‘which came first, the chicken or the egg?’ The violence of war and the violence of everyday life in Serbian society were locked in a cycle of mutual causation.” (Journal of International Institute, Summer 1997; photo mc.rs)

Tamika Mallory

Overview

Tamika Mallory born New York, NY June 12, 1980. Civil rights leader. Organized 2017 Women’s March with nonviolence as its first principle; arrested at Trump Tower for Day Without a Woman protest.

Quotations

“On July 14th, Women’s March and partners will mobilize a mass demonstration, again grounded in the principles of Kingian nonviolence, to denounce the false and intimidating rhetoric of hatred and send a clear message that our movement will proudly and bravely continue to strive for the respect of the civil and human rights of all people.” (Facebook, July 17, 2017; photo womensmarch.com)

Blanche Maupas

Overview

Blanche Maupas (née Herpin) born Hudimesnil, Manche, France November 29, 1883 (d. 1962). Widow of soldier executed for refusing to attack as French artillery bombed his trenches; won 20-year fight for rehabilitation of his image. (photo actu.fr)

Iltizam Morrar

Overview

Iltizam Morrar born Budrus, Palestine July 8, 1988. “The Muslim Joan of Arc.” Nonviolent medical student. Jumped in front of bulldozer, stopping Israeli wall, 2003; subject of film Budrus, 2009.

Quotations

“I believe in nonviolence and peaceful resistance even more because it helped us achieve something. . . Large amounts of land were supposed to be confiscated from the people of Budrus but because of these demonstrations they were only able to take a small portion of the lands that they planned to take, and they moved the Wall to the Green Line. . . Any theory needs to be tested and if it succeeds that means it is effective.” (Just Vision; photo zenskaposla)

Gertrude Bustill Mossell

Overview

Gertrude Bustill Mossell born Philadelphia, PA July 3, 1855 (d. 1948). African-American journalist, editor, author, and teacher.

Quotations

“Always the cry of peace, peace, when there is no peace. We live in a hope of developing a manhood and a womanhood that will aim at a real and not a fictitious peace.” (Streitmatter, p. 43)

"Give women more power in the government offices if the desire is for peace and prosperity.” (Streitmatter, p. 45; photo Lockport Union Sun)

Janet McCloud

Overview

Janet McCloud (née Renecker) “Yet-Si-Blue” born Tulalip Reservation, WA March 30, 1934 (d. 2003). “Rosa Parks of the American Indian Movement. ” Native American rights leader; co-founder Women of All Red Nations (WARN), 1974. Convened Indigenous Women’s Network, 1985. Arrested for fish-in, 1965, 6-day fast in jail; vindicated in classic Boldt decision, 1964.

Quotations

“We needed to do something for the women. We are the backbone of our communities. Men are the jawbone.” (Jane Katz, ed., Messengers of the Wind, ch. 24; photo Seattle P-I)

Selma Meyer

Overview

Sara Cato (Selma) Meyer born Amsterdam, The Netherlands July 6, 1890 (d. 1941). Dutch employment agency head; feminist; pacifist. Secretary, Pacifist Women’s League; WILPF affiliate. Aided refugees from Germany and Spanish Civil War. Co-founded National Peace Center (NVC), 1936. Joined World War II resistance; arrested, 1940. Died a prisoner, Berlin. (photo Wikipedia)

Maya Menezes

Overview

Maya Menezes born Toronto, Canada March 20, 2004.  Canadian youth activist. Supporter of refugee cause; working to combat climate change.

Quotations

“What we’re trying to organize on the ground against is actually a rejection that some people are deserving of basic dignity and rights, and some are not. In the global climate crisis, we understand that most of the world either will be turned into a desert or will be uninhabitable, due to temperature, storm changes. We need to make sure that a climate plan that talks about decreasing emissions also has an open conversation that the borders must be open and people must have clear avenues to status and citizenship and safety in wherever they want to move to.” (Democracy Now!, Dec. 15, 2018; photo toronto environmental alliance)

Aino Malmberg

Overview

Aino Malmberg (née Perenius) born Hollola, Finland, Russia February 24, 1865 (d. 1933). Finnish patriot and writer; feminist, socialist. Opposed World War I; sailed on Ford Peace Ship to stop War, 1915.

Quotations

“The old civilization will be destroyed. . . women and workers [should build] a cleaner world.” (London, Aug. 4, 1914 in Douglas Allen, At Daggers Drawn, p. 22; photo Wikipedia)

Marichuy

Overview

Marichuy (née María de Jesús Patricio Martínez) born Tuxpan, Jalisco, Mexico December 23, 1963. Native American Nahua human rights activist; traditional healer. First indigenous woman to run for Mexican presidency; founded National Indigenous Congress, 1996.

Quotations

“We are standing up, we are standing up to fight. We are determined to risk everything, even death. But we don’t carry drums of war, but rather banners of peace. We want to partner with all the men and women who, upon recognizing us, recognize their own roots.” (Chiapas Support Committee, Oct. 17, 2017; photo mexiconewsdaily)

Matiel Mogannam

Overview

Matiel Mogannam born Lebanon, Ottoman Empire February 15, 1889 (d. 1982). “The Palestinian Gandhi.” Pioneering Arab feminist. Founding Secretary, General Palestine Arab Women’s Congress, 1929; nonviolent leader of Women’s March Jerusalem, 1933.

Quotations

“During this period [1920s-30s] most of the women did not compete against each other. This [women’s movement] was the only intellectual activity they really had. So they felt they had just better do a good job together.” (Margot Badran, Feminists, Islam, p. 322; photo My Palestine)

Jan Maher

Overview

Jan Maher born Huntington, IN February 10, 1946. Peace playwright; co-author Most Dangerous Women about WILPF peacemakers.

Quotations

“There is clear and compelling evidence that when women are involved in peacemaking processes, the peace last longer. And that is good for all living things. At a time when the planet upon which we all depend is in mortal danger from our human activities, it's time to listen to women for a change." (photo authorsguild.net)

Sarah Mkhonza

Overview

Sarah Mkhonza (née Thembile Du Pont) born Siphofaneni, Swaziland May 7, 1957. Swazi journalist, novelist, poet. Exiled, 2003. Received Oxford PEN Award, 2005.

Quotations

We say peace be unto Aleppo
For what else is there to do
Than pray to the powers of our
World to stop fueling this fight
That has never stopped. . .

(“Peace Be Unto Aleppo”; photo Stanford Explore Courses)

Thelvia Marín

Overview

Thelvia Marín Mederos born Sancti Spiritu, Cuba August 28, 1922 (d. 2016). Cuban sculptress, painter, and poet. Created one of world’s largest peace sculptures “Disarmament, Work and Peace” for UN at University of Peace, Costa Rica, 1987. (photo escambray)

Wangari Maathai

Overview

Wangari Muta Maathai born Nyeri, Kenya April 1, 1940 (d. 2011). Nobel Peace laureate 2004; founded Green Belt movement of women planting trees 1977; her Peace Trees campaign promoted community conflict resolution; many arrests for civil disobedience.

Quotations

"[T]here can be no peace without equitable development; and there can be no development without sustainable management of the environment in a democratic and peaceful space." (Nobel address, Dec. 10, 2004)

"Mankind's universal values of love, compassion, solidarity, caring and tolerance should form the basis for this global ethic which should permeate culture, politics, trade, religion and philosophy. It should also permeate the extended family of the United Nations." (Beijing, Aug. 30, 1995; photo wangari.greenbeltmovement.org)