Women peacemakers born today

• 1893 Dorothy Detzer born Ft. Wayne, IN (d. 1981). WILPF National Secretary 1924-46; organized post-WW I Quaker relief to Austria and Russia; lobbied against arms makers and military training; advocated for women in international organizations.

• 1901 Kothainayaki Ammal born Chengalapattu, Tamil Nadu (d. 1960). Author of 115 novels; playwright; classical singer and composer; editor; speaker; supporter of Vinoba Bhave's nonviolence efforts. Indian freedom fighter; Gandhian follower; twice imprisoned, once for eight months.

• 1954 Medha Patkar born Bombay, India. Gandhian; nonviolent protester against Narvada dams; march and fast for life, 1986; recipient of Alternate Nobel Prize, 1991.

Women's peacemaking on this day

• 1896 Ghanaian women's nonviolent protest, Accra.

• 1914 Aleta Jacobs proposed women's peace conference which led to the creation of WILPF.

• 1954 Rosa Parks started bus boycott in "the decisive arrest" of the Civil Rights movement.

• 1985 Melbourne women began two-week vigil at US Consulate against US war machine.

• 1990 Five women and one man arrested in Gulf War protest at Westover Field, Chicopee, MA.

• 1997 37 Sudanese women arrested in Khartoum for silent march against the draft.

• 2001 World Satyagraha for Afghan women organized by Emma Bonino; 4,000+ women fasted.

• 2006 Sonia Sanchez and Grannies for Peace tried for Philadelphia protest.