Women peacemakers born today

1879 Helen Clarkson Miller Davis (d. 1968). Internationalist headmistress of Spence School; Middle East expert, esp. constitutions and religious freedom; chaired National Education Committee of League of Nations Association, 1922-41.
1921 Sophie Scholl born Forchtenberg, Bavaria (executed 1943). Leader of White Rose nonviolent resistance to Hitler.
1950 Jorie Graham born Brooklyn, NY. Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. Harvard professor. Portrayed the Iraq War invasion in light of Normandy in anti-war poetry collection Overlord, 2005.
1973 Tegla Loroupe born Kutomwony, Lelan, West Pokot District, Kenya. Kenyan athlete, world marathon champion, won NY Marathon 1994; founded Tegla Laroupe Peace Foundation 2003, bringing peace to warring tribes Turkana and Pokot; founded 10-km Peace Race for 2000 warriors 2006; Oxfam world tour appeal for Darfur 2007.

Women's peacemaking on this day

1837 Mary Parker led the first Anti-Slavery Convention of Women, New York City.
1971 Nguyen Thi Co immolated herself in protest against Vietnam War.
2000 Helen John arrested for blocking US spy base Menwith Hill, Yorkshire. Sent to jail for 17 days.
2007 During a sit-in at Marrakesh University, Sultana Khaya lost an eye after being severely beaten by the police.
2010 On this Mother’s Day, Andrea Cristina Mercado founded We Belong Together: Women for Common Sense Immigration Policies.
2015 Mothers for Justice United held Million Moms March on Capitol Hill to protest police violence against young black men.