Pat Taub
Women have the capacity to lead us to a more peaceful world with compassion, affection, and kindness. . . Females have more sensitivity for others’ pain and suffering.”——–Dalai Lama
As we celebrate the holidays, “Peace on Earth,” is echoed in card, carols, and greetings we exchange, but our male leaders seem tone-deaf to this sentiment. They are addicted to war and their profitable killing machines. Peace has been brushed aside as a way to settle the Ukraine War and Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Since our leaders have forsaken a peace agenda, it’s high time we followed the Dalai Lama’s advice and look to women peace workers to lead us.
With a little help from the WOW Facebook women, I’ve compiled a list of notable women peace workers who inspire and offer hope.
Medea Benjamin (Suggested by Robin Farin)
In 2002 Medea and Jodie Evans founded Codepink, the women’s peace organization, that leads protests against wars and human rights violations. Their imaginative street theater frequently makes headlines, Medea has developed the art of taking leaders to task by calling out fabrications and omissions at Congressional hearings and public discussions. Her courageous stands for peace have resulted in multiple arrests at home and abroad.
Medea leading a recent protest in the halls of Congress for a ceasefire in Gaza
Kathy Kelly (Suggested by Jacqui Deveneau)
Like Medea, Kathy has made peace work her life’s mission, displaying a fearless spirit, which has led to over 60 arrests. Until recently she lived in Afghanistan, developing programs for women and girls, and speaking out against the US drone campaign there which took 100’s of innocent lives. Kathy has deservedly won numerous peace awards, including the Gandhi Peace Award and the Thomas Merton Peace Award.
Kathy Kelly on the right with Ann Wright in Afghanistan
Jenn Budd (Suggested by Mary Dunn)
Jenn, a former Border Patrol agent, became an immigrant rights activist after witnessing widespread corruption, racism, and rape among Border Patrol agents. Her journey is described in her book, Against the Wall.
Nan Goldin
Nan, a prominent New York photographer, organized a protest in 2018 in the Sackler Wing’s Temple of Dendur at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The protest urged museums not to accept money from the Sackler family, founders of Purdue Pharma, that peddled the highly addictive OxyContin. Recently she turned down a coveted New York Times assignment, accusing the newspaper of a pro-Israel bias in its reporting on Gaza.
Nan Goldin leading a protest within the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Colonel Ann Wright (Suggested by Janet Weil)
Ann joined the army in 1982, later transitioning to the State Department. In 2003, on the eve of the Iraq invasion, she sent Colin Powell her letter of resignation, explaining she couldn’t support a war she considered illegal and immoral. As a peace worker she’s protested at Jeju Island in South Korea opposing the construction of an American military base; joined relief efforts in Greece to supply provisions to migrants; sailed on six Freedom Flotillas to Gaza to protest Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
Ann speaking on behalf of Palestinian rights.
Women of Jewish Voices for Peace
JVP has been staging powerful actions in support of a ceasefire in Gaza. Hats off to the 18 JVP women elders who chained themselves to the White House fence hours before the start of this year’s White House’s Hanukkah party.
Black Feminist Writers for Palestine
This organization reads like a Who’s Who of famous Black feminist writers, like Angela Davis and Barbara Ransby. They have been offering online seminars on “Justice for Palestine.” There is a long history of collaboration between American Blacks and Palestinians who share a history of being colonized.
Melanie Yazzie
Melanie, a Native American artist and assistant professor of American Studies at the University of Minnesota and co-founder of the Red Nations, has led protests in support of Palestine. Like the Black Feminists for Palestine, Melanie draws parallels between the colonialism of the Indigenous people of the U.S. to Palestinians.
Melanie Yazzle displaying one of her paintings on display at the Denver Art Museum
Rashida Tlaib
As the only Palestinian-American in Congress she has come under fire for her support of Palestine and calls for a ceasefire, which led to Congress censoring her, accusing her of being “Antisemitic.” Rashida has responded, “They can’t silence me.”
Rep. Tlaib speaking before Congress holding a photo of her Palestinian grandmother in a plea for a ceasefire in Gaza
Female Students
On campuses across the country young women and men have met censorship in their non-violent student protests in support of Palestine. This hasn’t deterred them. Young women are swelling rallies for Palestine at home and abroad.
