Women peacemakers born today

1825 Frances Harper born Baltimore, MD (d. 1911). Black non-resistant abolitionist poet; novelist and lecturer; sat-in on Philadelphia trolley 1859.

1852 Elizabeth Maria Molteno born Beaufort West, Cape Colony (d. 1927). South African educator, suffragist and feminist; strong public opponent of Boer War; friend of Gandhi, who called her "peacemaker", aiding his satyagraha campaign; friend of Olive Schreiner; supported conscientious objection in World War I; opposed racial segregation.
1866 Bhikhaji Cama (née Patel) born Mumbai, India (d. 1936). Indian independence leader; unfurled first tricolor flag at Socialist conference Stuttgart 1907; anti-imperialist; banned from India, arrested in France for antiwar activity 1914; interned 1916; nonviolent, but accepted resistance to violence; did relief work against the plague, which she caught 1896.

1885 Gabrielle Bouet born Assi-Bou-Nif, Algeria (d. 1977). Radical French pacifist syndicalist teacher; issued antiwar manifesto of teachers Chambery 1912; antiwar throughout World War I; opposed World War II.

1909 Charis Waddy born Parramatta, NSW, Australia (d. 2004). Christian scholar of Islam who bridged West and Islam, winning praise from leading Muslims.

1911 Lilian Ngoyi born Pretoria, South Africa (d. 1980). "Mother of Black Resistance" who insisted on nonviolence; President of ANC Women 1953; won international support 1955; led 20,000 march 1956; arrested and put in solitary jail 71 days; banned 11 years.

1952 Jill Stallard born Wales. Welsh nonviolent anti-nuclear activist; National Secretary CND Cymru; organized Chernobyl child aid; protested Gulf War environmental hazard 1993; supported Palestinian defense of olive trees, protested Israeli wall; sent 103 Welsh busloads to London against Iraq War.
1969 Zainab Salbi born Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi-American humanitarian. Founded Women for Women International to help women victims of war, 1993; awarded Hilton Humanitarian Prize, 2005.

Women's peacemaking on this day

1988 Aung San Suu Kyi founded National League for Democracy with nonviolent Gandhian campaign.

2005 NOW sponsored "Stop the War Now" campaign DC.
2008 Colombian peace leader Olga Marina Vergara assassinated Medellin.
2011 Police pepper-sprayed Chelsea Elliott and Jeanne Mansfield at Union Square, NY, giving boost to Occupy movement.
2013 Sylvia Boyes and Mary Millington cut fence at Faslane Naval Base to protest Trident submarine.