Lynda Van Devanter born Arlington County, VA May 27, 1947 (d. 2002). Army nurse; protested Vietnam War by Thanksgiving Day fast at Peiku Hospital, 1969. Founded Women’s Project of Vietnam Veterans, 1979. Died of Agent Orange exposure, 2002.
“When each new woman tells me she's made her peace with Vietnam, I know I've helped in some small way.” (encyclopedia.com; photo Country Joe Macdonald)
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard born Washington DC August 28, 1964. Civil rights attorney. Led opposition to Iraq War, 2002; defended nonviolent protests. Led protection of Venezuelan embassy from attempted coup, 2019.
“So while we’re faced with what is I think overt repression. . . we also are faced with the fact that there are millions of people who are engaging in political protest and political organizing who have never done so before, and that’s a force that really can’t be stopped.” (Partnership for Civil Justice, Aug. 1, 2017; photo justiceonline)
Katrina vanden Heuvel born New York, NY October 7, 1960. Editor & publisher of The Nation; voiced early opposition to Iraq War.
"Pre-emptive war against Iraq—or any nation—lacks legitimacy, morality, and sense." (The Nation, Feb. 6, 2003; 2011 photo thenation.com)
Narcissa Cox Vanderlip born Quincy, IL February 9, 1879 (d. 1966). Internationalist; organizer; suffragist. Chairperson of New York League of Women Voters, 1919-23; served as judge for Bok Peace Prize with Esther Lape and Eleanor Roosevelt. Promoted League of Nations and World Court with Eleanor Roosevelt. (photo http://bit.ly/IKq4c2)
Genevieve Vaughn born Corpus Christi, TX November 21, 1935. American resident of Italy; semiotician; promoted Gift Economy; peace advocate, founder Feminist International for Peace and Food 1984; sponsored Peace Tent at Nairobi Women’s conference 1984; Women’s peace meetings Moscow 1987; European Peace Caravans; US-Salvador women’s meeting 1991; Women’s Peace Caravan to end the Nuclear Age 1994; Colombian women on Peace Boat 2001.
“I have witnessed the waste of the world’s wealth on armaments, justified by military paranoia. It is no longer only the transfer of the (free)’gift’ of wealth from the poor to the rich that is the problem, but the defense of that transfer by the military, and resources wasted on that defense. We have fostered institutions of Patriarchal paranoia, instead of institutions of human nurturing and the creation of community.” (The Gift Economy; photo MAGO E*magazine)
Ann Margaret Veneman born Modesto, CA June 29, 1949. Executive Director of UNICEF 2005-2010. First woman Secretary of Agriculture 2001-5 lowered tariffs in Doha Round; promoted Malaria No More.
"Wars must never be fought by children. Whether children are forcibly recruited, join armed groups in order to escape poverty or hunger, or enlist to actively support a cause, the first loss is their childhood." (to UNICEF, March 18, 2006; photo Wikipedia)
Mabel Vernon born Wilmington, DE September 10, 1883 (d. 1975). Quaker pacifist; suffragist speaker and organizer; one of first six arrested in White House protests 1917; organized WILPF Peace Caravan 1931; directed Peoples Mandate against War 1935; promoted Good Neighbor policy in Latin America; lobbied against UN veto 1945.
"We are called the Iron Jawed Angels. Is that supposed to be an insult?" (attributed to Vernon, 2004 film; photo Library of Congress)
Melanne Verveer born Pottsville, PA June 24, 1944. First US Ambassador for Women's Global Issues 2009; co-founded Vital Voices Global Partnership for empowering women 2000.
"Violence against women is endemic around the world. It not only undermines the possibility of gender equality, it negatively affects women’s healthcare, education, and political and economic participation. The United States places a priority on combating violence against women." (United Nations, March 3, 2010; photo State Dept.)
Fanny Garrison Villard (née Helen Garrison) born Roxbury, Boston, MA December 16, 1844 (d. 1928). Nonviolent founder of NAACP, Women's Peace Society, 1919.
"My inherited principles of Non-Resistance. . . seem as essential to me as the breath of life and paramount to all others." (Pref. To William Lloyd Garrison on Non-Resistance; 1913 photo Budapest wikicom pd)
Lula Vollmer born Keyser, NC March 7, 1889 (d. 1955). Broadway actress and playwright. Appalachian folk play “Sun-up” (1923) features nonviolence: Widow Cagle counsels draft resistance and shelters conscientious objector; decides not to kill for killing her husband, concluding that peace can come only from love and realizing our common humanity.
“As long as thar is hate thar will be feuds—and wars.” (“Sun-up”, p. 77)
“Thar ain’t no reason for war, unless us poor folks fight the rich uns for the way they air bleedin’ us to death.” (Ibid., pp. 2-3)
“[H]it’s lovin’ them all that counts.” (Ibid., p. 79); photo ncpedia.org)
Mary Heaton Vorse born New York, NY October 11, 1874 (d. 1966). Journalist; novelist and poet; labor organizer; Socialist and pacifist. Opposed World War I; co-founder of Pacifist Women's Party, 1915; delegate and reporter at International Congress of Women at The Hague, 1915.
"No one can be a pacifist without being ready to fight for peace and die for peace." (The Hague, April 27, 1915; passport photo 1917 wiki pd)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
