1920 - 1997
Overview:
What didn't this great woman do!? Not only did she raise a family, but she also rallied for civil rights, women's rights, Peace in Vietnam and social justice, while acquiring a law degree and campaigning for a seat in parliament.
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Bella Abzug
Bella lived life to the full and improved the lives of others as well.
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Country:
United States of America
Type
of hero: Civil and Political Rights
Attributes:
Human Rights, Peace, Social Justice
Biography:
Born in New York, Bella Savitzky was the daughter of Russian-Jewish immigrant parents. She was educated in the Bronx and completed her BA in 1942 at Hunter College.
As a student, she became involved in a number of protest causes. These included protesting against fascism and demonstrating support of the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War.
In 1944, she married Martin Abzug with whom she had two daughters.
In 1945, she took studied law at Colombia and practiced in New York until 1970.
Throughout the 1960's, she was active in a number of peace, civil rights and women's movements. In a professional capacity, she had defended Civil Rights cases in the 1950's as well as defending writers accused of un-American activities during that time.
Following her election to the House of Representatives in 1971, she campaigned for welfare rights, full employment, consumer protection, aid to Israel and environmental protection. She introduced legislation calling for an end to the Vietnam War.
While her efforts to obtain a Senate seat in 1976 were unsuccessful, she remained a member of many committees and pressure groups pushing for civil liberties, democratic processes and women's issues.
Citations
& References:
Links
http://www.greatwomen.org/abzug.htm
http://www.bemorecreative.com/one/1078.htm
References
Uglow, J., (Ed) 1999 The Macmillan Dictionary of Women's Biography London, Macmillan p. 2.
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