By Anthony J. Marsella and Kathleen Malley-Morrison
Continuing the Legacy . . .
9 Mar 2018 – With a continuing commitment to the work and consequences of Reverend Martin Luther King’s enduring efforts to promote peace and justice through non-violence, we submit a third list of living peace and justice leaders and models for recognition and distribution.
We are eternally grateful for Reverend King’s efforts to free people and nations from the brutal oppressions imposed by governments, nations, societies, organizations, and individuals. Regardless of the source, those who willfully support and sustain the evils of racism, prejudice, violence, and war, will yield to peace and justice leaders because of an inherent moral sense, even if denied in some.
Reverend King’s commitment to freedom from oppression and abuse compel us to continue his efforts far beyond the words, song, and promises of his day. His abuse from corrupt government offices and officials likely resulted in his assassination. Reverend King’s awareness of his persecution and perhaps assassination at the hands of his enemies did not prevent him from continuing his efforts; he knew even in his death, his truths would endure.
List 3
Like other prior published Lists, the individuals cited on this List come represent a variety of demographic markers including gender, ethnicity, race, age, nation, religion, and life- style persuasion. By accessing the URL accompanying the person’s name, you can read of their peace and justice activism and advocacy.
We have reviewed each person’s contributions and were privileged to consider their listing. It is axiomatic some individuals will be criticized by others for their presence because of masked activities. Clearly, in a world of fake news, misrepresentations, and hacking, errors may be made. Forgive us if this is the case. We are earnest in our effort to bring recognition to those whose efforts required courage and commitment.
Our choice of the number 100 is arbitrary, for there are thousands of individuals who deserve citation. Most are not listed; we will continue to create list for future efforts. Do not be dismayed! Patience! We believed it essential to develop lists of living peace and justice activists and advocates to encourage and foster peace and justice work.
In the omnipresent face of abuses and oppression, in the face of persecution from government and private sources demonstrated via the betrayal and misuse of the secret FISA Court’s politicization and weaponization, we recall and honor iconic peace and justice leaders of the past, including Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, Samuel Gompers, Caesar Chavez, Larry Itliong, Rachel Corrie, Philip Berrigan & Daniel Berrigan, Glenn Paige, Hedy Epstein, Malcolm X, and scores of others.
Peace and justice advocates and activists, across time, are testimony to the enduring human spirit to resist oppression to claim liberty, and to endure, even when the costs are life. Individuals recognized on List 1, List 2, and now List 3 are part of the tradition of resistance to oppression, and the promotion of peace and justice.
There can be no greater honor! Regardless of religious persuasion, the beautiful words from the Sermon on the Mount resonate across time and place: Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5.9KJV).
Spirit of Our Times
There is a new spirit of encounter (e.g., Black Lives Matter); a new spirit of protest evidenced by DC gatherings for women and minority groups; a new spirit of communication among media free of government or wealth controls; there is a new spirit of protest against war and militarism, and the spending of a nation’s wealth on weaponry and endless war; there is a new spirit of concern for life and land, especially regarding anthropogenic climate changes; there is a new spirit of determination to expose the abuses of privilege and position by select government official who have politicized and weaponized laws for personal use (e.g., FISA).
These emerging changes signal and sustain “Hope!” “Hope” is the life blood of progressive change. “Hope” can be suppressed and oppressed, but it cannot be defeated. “Hope” endures because it is the essence of life. Regardless of life forms and species, “Hope” is the evolutionary impulse pursuing survival and becoming.
We consider our efforts a beginning, and we will continue to publish new lists. This is so because the struggle for peace and justice is endless, and each day new people are rising to the call. This is as it should be, and must be, until such time as the forces of oppression fall before the forces of good; evil will continue, but human virtue, endowed in human conscience, will triumph!
Goals of Peace and Justice
Almost two decades ago, David Reiff (1999), in his classic paper, “The precarious triumph of human rights” (New York Times Magazine, August 8, pp. 36-4) articulated his view of “new moral order” characteristics; his thoughts were prescient:
- Civil society;
- Humanitarianism;
- Human rights versus state sovereignty;
- Emergence of human rights activists, development workers, aid experts committed to needs of an interdependent world;
- Small is beautiful;
- Democracy building;
- Growth of NGOs;
- Considering individual as well as state rights;
- Plans for a permanent international criminal court.
To these, we would add the following:
- Decentralization;
- Grass-Roots participation;
- Non-violence
- Communication/networking;
- Determination to question and to hold accountable those with wealth, power, position and person.
Before sharing our third list, we wish to include two charts offering graphic displays of essential material for appreciating living leaders.
CHART 1: PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PEACE AND JUSTICE LEADERS AND MODELS
CHART 2: ROLES AND STATUSES OF LIVING PEACE & JUSTICE LEADERS AND MODELS
THIRD LIST OF 100 PEACE ADVOCATES/ACTIVISTS:
1. Aalbers: Dan Aalbers
2. Abu-Jamal: Mumia Abu-Jamal
3. Agro: Ed Agro
4. Ahn: Christine Ahn
5. Arvold: Nancy Arvold
6. Avery: John Scales Avery
7. Belafonte: Harry Belafonte
8. Belo: Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo
9. Bemak: Fred Bemak
10. Bennis: Phyllis Bennis
11. Bharti: Kriti Bharti
12. Bica: Camillo Mac Bica
13. Botari: Mary Botari
14. Buchelt: Paul Buchheit
15. Carr: Stuart Carr
16. Ciafalo: Nuria Ciafalo
17. Clements: Kevin Clements
18. Cook: Jonathan Cook
19. Cooper: Mary Pelton Cooper
20. Corseri: Gary Corseri
21. Ćudić: Edvin Kanka Ćudić
22. Daoudi: Mohammed Dajani Daoudi Daoudi
23. DeRivera: Joseph DeRivera
24. Eidelson: Judy Eidelson
25. Evans: Jodie Evans
26. Fabri: Mary Fabri
27. Faiz: Faiz Ahmed Faiz
28. Feeley: Tom Feely
29. Garris: Eric Garris
30. Gbowee: Leymah Gbowee
31. Gerstein: Lawrence H. Gerstein
32. Gibbons: Judith Gibbons
33. Giraldi: Philip Giraldi
34. Glover: Danny Glover
35. Goose: Stephen Goose
36. Gordon: Rebecca Gordon
37. Grassie: William Grassie
38. Gundle: Sarah Gundle
39. Halper: Jeff Halper
40. Hall: Harold Hall
41. Hand: Judith Hand
42. Harjo: Suzan Shown Harjo
43. Hartsough: David Hartsough
44. Hess: John Hess
45. Hill: Anita Hill
46. Hudson: Kate Hudson
47. Huerta: Dolores Huerta
48. Hunter: Daniel Hunter
49. Ivey: Allen Ivey
50. Jacevich: Mirsad “Miki” Jacevich
51. Jackson: Michael R. Jackson
52. Jianping: Cheng Jianping
53. Judge: Anthony Judge
54. Kaneza: Carine Kaneza
55. Karlin: Mark Karlin
56. Karman: Tawakkol Abdel-Salam Karman
57. Kavi: Ashok Row Kavi
58. Kehler: Randy Kehler
59. Kielburger: Craig Kielburger
60. Khan: Imran Khan
61. Koenisberg: Richard A. Koenigsberg
62. Kokesh: Adam Kokesh
63. Kovalev: Sergei Kovalev
64. Kovic: Ron Kovic
65. Landis: Dan Landis
66. Levi: Lennart Levi
67. Lewis: John Lewis
68. Macy: Joanna Macy
69. Matache: Margareta Matache
70. Mbaezue: Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Mbaezue
71. McCourt: Jon McCourt
72. Muzaffar: Chandra Muzaffar
73. Navalny: Alexei Navalny
74. Olson: Brad Olson
75. Omalu: Bennet Omalu
76. Osorio: Jonathan Osorio
77. Paxton: Tom Paxton
78. Pineda-Marcon: Nella Pineda-Marcon
79. Qazi: Moin Qazi
80. Quan: Guo Quan
81. Raman: V. Raman
82. Rich: Frank Rich
83. Rodriguez:Jaime Rodriguez
84. Roth: Judy Roth
85. Rudmin: Floyd Rudmin
86. Salem: Walid Salem
87. Scahill: Jeremy Scahill
88. Shahshahani: Azadeh N. Shahshahani
89. Sloan: Todd Sloan
90. Smith: Zadie Smith
91. Snyder: Susi Snyder
92. Solnit: Rebecca Solnit
93. Vredeveld: Angie Vredeveld
94. Watkins: Mary Watkins
95. Weiwei: Ai Weiwei
96. Welch: Bryant Welch
97. Wong: Paul T. Wong
98. Yoshinaga: Aiko Yoshinaga
99. Zarni: Maung Zarni
100.Zuniga: Bertha Zuniga
Join us in celebrating the individuals making our world a better place for all, individuals advancing the human and natural order. List 4 is in preparation.
Anthony J. Marsella, Ph.D., a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment.
Kathleen Malley-Morrison, Ed.D., Director of the Group on International Perspectives on Governmental Aggression and Peace (GIPGAP).
12 March 2018