Helen McCloy born New York, NY June 6, 1904 (d. 1992). Journalist, author; Quaker. Wrote mystery novels under the pseudonym Helen Clarkson.
"Everything you do in war is a crime in peace." (A Change of Heart, 1973; photo Wikipedia)
Nellie Letitia McClung (née Mooney) born Chatsworth, Ontario, Canada October 20, 1873 (d. 1951). Canadian suffragist; novelist; legislator; delegate to League of Nations, 1938.
"Women have not had much to do with making wars, though some wars in ancient times have been blamed on them; and as men have written the histories we have never heard the woman's side of the story." (Book Rags bio; photo Wikipedia)
Anne O'Hare McCormick born Wakefield, Yorkshire, England May 16, 1882 (d. 1952). First American delegate to UNESCO, 1946-48. First woman awarded Pulitzer Prize, for foreign news, 1937.
"[T]he real test of power is not capacity to make war but the capacity to prevent it." (photo Wikipedia)
Alli McCracken born December 22, 1989. National coordinator for CODE PINK. As college student, arrested for assault on Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at congressional hearing by showing sign "FUND MY EDUCATION, NOT YOUR WARS," and vocal protest.
"Secretary Panetta, when are we going to stop funding war and start rebuilding America? We have been at war for almost half my life and guys my age have PTSD. My generation deserves better!" (Code Pink, October 17, 2011; photo Code Pink)
Catherine Waugh McCulloch born Ransomville, NY June 4, 1862 (d. 1945). Pioneer woman lawyer and influential speaker who led suffrage movement in Illinois; WILPF leader, lifelong friend of Jane Addams; opposed US imperialism in Philippines; advocated international arbitration; authored study of British colonies.
"I have great anxiety for the future. How can my daughter be saved from the white slave traffic?" (March 14, 1914 prayer, The Survey, p.752; photo evanstonwomen.org)
Gabrielle Kirk McDonald born St. Paul, MN April 12, 1942. "The most powerful African-American woman in the world." (Kitty Felde, HR Brief, vol.7, p.3); International lawyer. First woman judge of Yugoslav war crimes tribunal, Sept. 1993; served as its president, 1997-99. Judge on Iran-US Claims Commission.
"We must act and protect those who cannot protect themselves. If we do not learn the lessons from our troubled history, then we are doomed to repeat them." (Nov. 19, 1998 report to UN Gen. Assembly; photo ICTY)
Alexa McDonough (née Shaw) born Ottawa, Canada August 11, 1944. Social worker and politician. As leader of the New Democratic Party, opposed Iraq War. Fought Islamophobia, leading campaign for release of US detainee.
“I just think that Canadians want to hear loud and clear just like other countries have said that they will not be part of any U.S. aggression towards Iraq, period. . . [I]t is a gross absence of leadership on the part of the prime minister to just kind of shrug and say 'Sure, Bush, bring on the evidence and then count on us for a war.'” (Canadian Annual Review of Politics 2002, pp. 68-9; photo NNDB)
Gay McDougall born Atlanta, GA August 13, 1947. African-American human rights lawyer; head Global Rights, Partners for Justice 1994-2005; first UN Independent Expert on Minorities 2005; advised first South African elections 1994, and first government of Namibia 1990.
On attacks on Roma: "Where a hard core of extremism exists in society and is willing to perpetrate violence, the full force of the criminal justice system must be used to protect targeted populations." (UN News, Nov. 21, 2008; photo globalfundforwomen)
Mary Eliza McDowell born Cincinnati, OH November 30, 1854 (d. 1936). "Angel of the Stockyards." Associate of Jane Addams at Hull House; successful mediator in labor disputes and racial tensions; WILPF.
"We believe that God hath made of one blood all nations of men, and that we are His children, brothers and sisters of all." (IL History, April 1998, p. 43; photo with Jane Addams, ucservice league)
Carol Cohen McEldowney born Brooklyn, NY April 5, 1943 (d. 1973). American peace activist; illegally visited Hanoi Oct. 1967 in reconciliation effort; published Hanoi Journal, 1967. Community organizer Students for a Democratic Society.
“Vietnam now suffers greatly as the object of the American war. What happens there is a result of American success or failure.” (Wiest, America and the Vietnam War)
“[The Vietnamese people] will continue the Revolutionary struggle till death. . . The truth is that the struggle for independence is woven into the blood and life-fabric of every man and woman.” (Hanoi Journal, 1967, p. 131; photo classcreator.com)
Peg McIntire (née Dallet) born New York October 2, 1910 (d. 2008). Grandmothers for Peace activist; opposed Iraq War, School of Americas; arrested over 12 times for nonviolent protests; jailed 30 days for protest against Cassini rocket at the age of 89.
"I think it is immoral (if not unconstitutional) that more than half of our tax dollars are used to pay for current and past wars. If instead this money were invested in peace initiatives and aid programs, we could truly build a better and more secure world." (Letter to editor, March 17, 2007; photo http://bit.ly/As0BfA)
Patricia McKenna born Castleshane, Monaghan, Ireland March 13, 1957. Irish internationalist politician. First Green Party delegate to European Parliament, 1994-2004. President of Europeans United for Democracy, 2010-present; advocated democratization of UN. Led boycott of products of Burmese junta; opposed American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; protested US use of Shannon Air Base for wars; opposed militarization of European community.
“The oneness of this planet has been brought home increasingly to the world's population this century, with most of the latter half clouded by possible global annihilation from nuclear war. . . People power has never been so possible or so potent. We must organise and make common cause for our extraordinary common planet.” (Uniting for Peace, Feb. 2015; photo Europeans United for Democracy)
Cynthia McKinney born Atlanta, GA March 17, 1955. Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy PhD. Candidate; six-term US Representative, 1993-2003, 2005-2007. Served on House International Affairs Committee; headed human rights subcommittee which sponsored act to deny arms to dictators. Opposed Kosovo bombing, 1999; voiced early opposition to Iraq War, 2003; led move to impeach George W. Bush, 2006. Won 161,000 votes as Green Party presidential candidate, 2008. Detained for attempt to break Gaza blockade, 2009; opposed Libya War, 2011.
“The American people are being called upon to send their young sons and daughters to go and kill young Iraqi sons and daughters. This war, like all wars, will be brutal and will leave many American and Iraqi families mourning the loss of their children.” (Sept. 22, 2002; photo Wikipedia)
Anita McKone born Canberra, Australia August 10, 1969. Australian nonviolent activist; poet, songwriter and writer; arrested 7 times; imprisoned four, during which she fasted, one time four weeks.
“Nonviolence is. . . Having the courage to stand steadfastly and ongoingly for the truth of your own existence when others try to terrorize you into believing that you do not exist.”
“They are asking us to kill civilians
They’re telling us the lie that there is someone else to fear
They’re asking us to hate those who’ve never done us harm
Build the wall up. The wall up and never let them near.
If you’re asking me to sacrifice myself
If you’re asking me to sacrifice the truth
If you’re asking me to sacrifice those others just like me
You don’t deserve obedience even if you imprison me.”
(“Stand Against War”; photo anitamckone.wordpress.com)
Sarah McLachlan born Halifax, Canada January 28, 1968. Singer of peace and nonviolence; supporter of CARE, Heifer International, and anti-hunger causes.
"The world's on fire and it's more than I can handle"
"Peace in the struggle to find peace
And if I feel a rage I won't deny it
I won't fear love."
("Fumbling Towards Ecstasy"; 2010 photo Wikipedia)
Priscilla Bright McLaren born Rochdale, Lancashire, England September 8, 1815 (d. 1906). British social reformer; Quaker abolitionist, suffragist, absolute pacifist. Vice-president of Peace Society, 1890; active in International Arbitration & Peace Association. Organized national Peace Conference to oppose Crimean War, Edinburgh, 1853. Promoted international suffrage movement and representation of British colonies.
On the Boer War: “Satan is in great form everywhere.” (Christine Bolt, Sisterhood Questioned?, p. 22; photo wpclipart.com)
Violet McNaughton (née Jackson) born Borden, Kent, England November 11, 1879 (d. 1968). Canadian journalist; WILPF leader; farm women organizer.
"We have taught the world that 'woman power' is about the cheapest power on earth. We never put a value on the labour which goes into this or that task." (Sask. Human Rights report 2004, p. 11; photo U. Sask.)
Monica McWilliams born Ballymoney, Northern Ireland April 28, 1954. Catholic professor, politician, and peacemaker. Involved in negotiation of Good Friday Agreement between Ireland and Northern Ireland, 1998. Head of Irish Human Rights Commission, 2005-08. Worked in Colombia, Palestine, South Africa, Timor Leste, and Uganda on conflict-related issues; trained women of Afghanistan and Iraq.
"[The] whole point about human rights is that you are tested when you are defending the human rights of people you may not agree with." (March 24, 2009, LiveJournal; photo atangledweb.org)
Lucia Ames Mead born Boscawen, NH May 5, 1856 (d. 1936). Pioneering American internationalist; anti-imperialist; pacifist; suffragist. Promoted interdependence, arbitration, and international organization, including international police force. Co-founded Women's Peace Party with Jane Addams, 1915; founding member of WILPF.
"Whoever helps to make nations interdependent helps to make them friends."(Swords and Plowshares, p. 48, 1913; photo cowhampshireblog.com)
Margaret Mead born Doylestown, PA December 16, 1901 (d. 1978). Anthropologist; Quaker.
"Every time we liberate a woman, we liberate a man."
"The first step in the direction of a world rule of law is the recognition that peace no longer is an unobtainable ideal but a necessary condition of continued human existence." (New York Times Magazine, Nov. 26, 1961, 125; photo wikicom pd)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
