List of civil rights leaders

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George Mason

Olympe de Gouges
Karl Heinrich Ulrichs

Victoria Woodhull
W.E.B. Du Bois

Mahatma Gandhi
Alice Paul

B. R. Ambedkar

Dorothy Height
Nelson Mandela

Betty Friedan

Frank Kameny
Martin Luther King Jr.

James Bevel
 Malala Yousafzai

Civil rights leaders are influential figures in the promotion and implementation of political
freedom and the expansion of personal civil liberties and rights. They work to protect individuals
and groups from political repression and discrimination by governments and private
organizations, and seek to ensure the ability of all members of society to participate in the civil
and political life of the state.
Civil rights include individual rights to equal protection and service, privacy, freedom of
thought, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to
travel, freedom of worship, protection of civil liberties, the right to vote and the right to freely
share ideas and opinions through all forms of communication and media.

Contents

 1List
 2See also
 3References
 4External links

List[edit]
People who motivated themselves and then led others to gain and protect these rights and
liberties include:

Name Born Died Country Notes

United wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights and

George Mason 1725 1792
States influenced United States Bill of Rights

United English-American activist, author, theorist,

Thomas Paine 1737 1809
States wrote Rights of Man

1744 1829
Elizabeth United also known as Mum Bett – first former slave to win
 Name Born Died Country Notes

Freeman States a freedom suit in Massachusetts

Jeremy United British philosopher, writer, and teacher on civil rights,

1748 1832
Bentham Kingdom inspiration

Olympe de women's rights pioneer, writer, beheaded during

1748 1793 France
Gouges French Revolution

United American founding father, introduced and lobbied for

James Madison 1751 1836
States the United States Bill of Rights

William United
1759 1833 leader of the British abolition movement
Wilberforce Kingdom

Mary United
1759 1797 British author, early advocate for women's rights
Wollstonecraft Kingdom

representative from Pennsylvania, anti-slavery leader,

Thaddeus United
1792 1868 originator of the 14th Amendment to the U.S.
Stevens States
Constitution

United
Lucretia Mott 1793 1880 women's rights activist, abolitionist
States

William Lloyd United

1805 1879 abolitionist, writer, organizer, feminist, initiator
Garrison States

Lysander United abolitionist, writer, anarchist, proponent of Jury

1808 1887
Spooner States nullification

Charles United
1811 1874 Senator from Massachusetts, anti-slavery leader
Sumner States

United
Abby Kelley 1811 1887 abolitionist and suffragette
States
 Name Born Died Country Notes

Elizabeth Cady United

1815 1902 women's suffrage/women's rights leader
Stanton States

United
Lucy Stone 1818 1893 women's suffrage/voting rights leader
States

Frederick United abolitionist, women's rights and suffrage advocate,

1818 1895
Douglass States writer, organizer, black rights activist, inspiration

Julia Ward United

1818 1910 writer, organizer, suffragette
Howe States

Susan B. United
1820 1906 Women's suffrage leader, speaker, inspiration
Anthony States

Harriet United
1822 1913 African-American abolitionist and humanitarian
Tubman States

Karl Heinrich writer, organizer, and the pioneer of the modern LGBT
1825 1895 Germany
Ulrichs rights movement

Antoinette
United founded American Woman Suffrage
Brown 1825 1921
States Association with Lucy Stone in 1869
Blackwell

Victoria United
1838 1927 suffragette organizer, women's rights leader
Woodhull States

Frances United
1839 1898 women's rights activist, woman suffrage leader
Willard States

Josephine St. United suffragist, editor, co-founder of the first chapter of

1842 1924
Pierre Ruffin States the NAACP

Kate Sheppard 1848 1934 suffragist in first country to have universal suffrage
New
 Name Born Died Country Notes

Zealand

United organizer, campaigner for the poor, women, dissenters,

Eugene Debs 1855 1926
States prisoners

educator, founder of Tuskegee University, and adviser

Booker T. United
1856 1915 to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William
Washington States
Howard Taft

Emmeline United founder and leader of the British Suffragette

1858 1928
Pankhurst Kingdom Movement

Reverend Charles Grafton Archdioceses of Wisconsin

Fond Du Lac, Responsible for Rescue helping the
Slaves

Under Ground Railroad Initiator Wisconsin Boston,

New York and Southern States

Charles United civil rights, known abolitionist.

1869 1948
Grafton States Brought the Convent of the Holy
Nativity Nuns to Fond Du Lac,
Wisconsin activist, movement leader,
writer, philosopher, and teacher
Responsible for helping to establish
townships all over Wisconsin, and
other parts of the United States

suffrage leader, president National American Woman

Carrie United
1859 1947 Suffrage Association, founder League of Women
Chapman Catt States
Voters and International Alliance of Women
United reformer, co-founder of the Hull House and American
Jane Addams 1860 1935
States Civil Liberties Union, 1931 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
United journalist, early activist in 20th-Century civil rights
Ida B. Wells 1862 1931
States movement, women's suffrage/voting rights activist
W.E.B. Du United
1868 1963 writer, scholar, founder of NAACP
Bois States
wife of Mohandas Gandhi, activist in South Africa and
Kasturba
1869 1944 India India, often led her husband's movements in India
Gandhi
when he was imprisoned
Mohandas activist, movement leader, writer, philosopher, and
1869 1948 India
Gandhi teacher
 Name Born Died Country Notes

Vallabhbhai
1875 1950 India activist, movement leader
Patel
lawyer, politician, and the founder of Pakistan;
Muhammad Ali
1876 1948 Pakistan lead Pakistan Movement for the rights of Muslims in
Jinnah
the subcontinent
United
Lucy Burns 1879 1966 women's suffrage/voting rights leader
States
civil leader, President of Brazil, first as dictator, from
Getúlio Vargas 1882 1954 Brazil
1930 to 1945
Eleanor United women's rights and human rights activist both in the
1884 1962
Roosevelt States United States and in the United Nations
United Women's Voting Rights Movement leader, strategist,
Alice Paul 1885 1977
States and organizer
worked with Mohandas Gandhi in South Africa and
Sonia Schlesin 1888 1956 Russia
led his movements there when he was absent
Toyohiko
1888 1960 Japan labor activist, Christian reformer, author
Kagawa
first Prime Minister of India, central figure in Indian
Jawaharlal
1889 1964 India politics before and after independence, advocate for
Nehru
freedom of the press
A. Philip United
1889 1979 labor and civil rights movement leader
Randolph States
reformer who drafted Constitution of India,
campaigned for Indian independence, fought for the
women's rights ([[Hindu Code B| data-sort-
B. R.
1891 1956 India value="Ambedkar, B. R."|B. R. Ambedkar
Ambedkar
ills]]), fought discrimination and inequality among the
people

Indian-Black Civil Rights activist responsible for the

segregation of Reno Nevada, (Casino)lawsuit. Jaybird
Graham from Marietta Texas, Purple heart recipient
family member of Tuskegee Airman Buddy, Married
Jaybird. United
1961 1965 Mary E. Graham in Reno Nevada won a jackpot in the
Graham States
Casino on his honeymoon and Mr and Mrs Graham
sued the Casino. and won, (Note blacks could only
Gamble at Chinaman's Club in Reno Nevada, In Las
Vegas Malone Rogue.)
Indian-Black Civil Rights activist responsible for the
segregation of Reno Nevada, (Casino)lawsuit. Mary E.
Graham from Aniston Alabama Radio host KJAY
Sacramento California. Related to the first Black
Mary Elizabeth United Highway Patrolman Howard Forbes. Married Jaybird
1961 1965
Graham States Graham in Reno Nevada won a jackpot in the Casino
on his honeymoon and Mr and Mrs Graham sued the
Casino on Segregation. and won, (Note blacks could
only Gamble at Chinaman's Club in Reno Nevada, In
Las Vegas Malone Rogue.) Mrs. Graham Founder of
 Name Born Died Country Notes

Teenagers Workshop, First Black Female bank robber

in California.
Walter Francis United
1895 1955 NAACP executive secretary
White States
Maria L. de United
1896 1986 Mexican-American rights activist
Hernández States
Thich Quang South
1897 1963 monk, freedom of religion self-martyr
Duc Vietnam
President of the African National Congress,[1] against
South
Albert Lutuli 1898 1967 apartheid in South Africa,[2] 1960 Nobel Peace
Africa Prize laureate[2]
United Montgomery Bus Boycott organizer, civil rights
Edgar Nixon 1899 1987
States activist
United
Roy Wilkins 1901 1981 NAACP executive secretary/executive director
States
Civil rights activist, and part of the only married
Harriette United
1902 1951 couple to be assassinated during the Civil Rights
Moore States
Movement
United SCLC activist, initiated the Student Nonviolent
Ella Baker 1903 1986
States Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
United
Marvel Cooke 1903 2000 civil rights leader
States
United teacher of nonviolence, pioneer activist, founded and
Myles Horton 1905 1990
States led the Highlander Folk School
John Peters
1905 1995 Canada author of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Humphrey
Nellie Stone United
1905 2002 labor and civil rights activist
Johnson States
United Civil rights activist, leader, and the first martyr of
Harry T. Moore 1905 1951
States the Civil Rights Movement
civil rights activist, first African-American lieutenant
United
Willa Brown 1906 1992 in the US Civil Air Patrol, first African-American
States
woman to run for Congress
Walter P. United
1907 1970 labor leader and civil rights activist
Reuther States
United founder of Mississippi's Regional Council of Negro
T.R.M. Howard 1908 1976
States Leadership
Winifred C. United First member of Congress to introduce legislation
1909 1996
Stanley States prohibiting discrimination in pay on the basis of sex
Elizabeth United
1911 1958 Alaskan activist for native people
Peratrovich States
Amelia
United Selma Voting Rights Movement activist and early
Boynton 1911 2015
States leader
Robinson
 Name Born Died Country Notes

United
Dorothy Height 1912 2010 activist and advocate for African-American women
States
United
Bayard Rustin 1912 1987 civil rights activist
States
Jo Ann United
1912 1992 Montgomery Bus Boycott activist
Robinson States
United early leader in American LGBT rights movement,
Harry Hay 1912 2002
States founder Mattachine Society
United NAACP official, activist, Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks 1913 2005
States inspiration
United organizer of the Little Rock Nine school desegregation
Daisy Bates 1914 1999
States events
United
Claude Black 1916 2009 civil rights activist
States
Frankie Muse United civil rights attorney, first woman appointee to United
1916 2018
Freeman States States Commission on Civil Rights
leader in the American Civil Rights Movement; co-
Fannie Lou United
1917 1977 founder of the National Women's Political
Hamer States
Caucus and Freedom Democratic Party
United voting rights activist, a local leader in the Selma
Marie Foster 1917 2003
States Voting Rights Movement
Humberto United
1918 2001 labor and civil rights leader
"Bert" Corona States
Gordon United
1918 2012 Japanese-American civil rights hero
Hirabayashi States
Nelson South
1918 2013 statesman, leading figure in Anti-Apartheid Movement
Mandela Africa
Fred United
1919 2005 Japanese internment resister during World War II
Korematsu States
United Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) leader and
James Farmer 1920 1999
States activist
civil rights organizer in North Carolina, field secretary
United
Golden Frinks 1920 2004 of the Southern Christian Leadership
States
Conference (SCLC)
United
Betty Friedan 1921 2006 writer, women's rights activist, feminist
States
United
Joseph Lowery 1921 SCLC leader and co-founder, activist
States
United co-founder of Daughters of Bilitis, first social and
Del Martin 1921 2008
States political organization for lesbians in the US
Mamie
United held an open casket funeral for her son, Emmett Till;
Elizabeth Till- 1921 2003
States speaker, activist
Mobley
Whitney M. 1921 1971 United Executive director of National Urban League, adviser
 Name Born Died Country Notes

Young, Jr. States to U.S. presidents

United
Charles Evers 1922 civil rights activist
States
Fred United clergyman, activist, SCLC co-founder, initiated
1922 2011
Shuttlesworth States the Birmingham Movement
United
Clara Luper 1923 2011 sit-in movement leader in Oklahoma, activist
States
United
James Baldwin 1924 1987 essayist, novelist, public speaker, SNCC activist
States
United co-founder of Daughters of Bilitis, first social and
Phyllis Lyon 1924
States political organization for lesbians in the U.S.
United
C.T. Vivian 1924 student civil rights leader, SNCC and SCLC activist
States
United
Lenny Bruce 1925 1966 free speech advocate, comedian, political satirist
States
United
Medgar Evers 1925 1963 NAACP official in the Mississippi Movement
States
Aiko Herzig- United
1925 2018 activist in Japanese-American redress movement
Yoshinaga States
United
Frank Kameny 1925 2011 gay rights activist
States
United
Malcolm X 1925 1965 author, speaker, activist, inspiration
States
Ralph United activist, Southern Christian Leadership
1926 1990
Abernathy States Conference (SCLC) official
United
Jackie Forster 1926 1998 English lesbian rights activist
Kingdom
Hosea United
1926 2000 civil rights activist, SCLC organizer and strategist
Williams States
United
Cesar Chavez 1927 1993 Chicano activist, organizer, trade unionist
States
Coretta Scott United
1927 2006 SCLC leader, activist
King States
United
James Forman 1928 2005 SNCC official and civil rights activist
States
United American minister and activist, SCLC's teacher of
James Lawson 1928
States nonviolence in civil rights movement
United
Elie Wiesel 1928 2016 writer, Holocaust survivor, Jewish rights leader
States
Martin Luther United SCLC co-founder/president/chairman, activist, author,
1929 1968
King, Jr. States speaker
United leader for Japanese-American civil rights and redress
Edison Uno 1929 1976
States after World War II
 Name Born Died Country Notes

Wyatt Tee United activist and organizer with NAACP, CORE,

1929 2018
Walker States and SCLC
United
Dorothy Cotton 1930 2018 SCLC official, activist, organizer, and leader
States
United
Dolores Huerta 1930 labor and civil rights activist, initiator, organizer
States
United politician, gay rights activist and leader for the LGBT
Harvey Milk 1930 1978
States community
Charles United
1930 2009 attorney, established principle of "one man, one vote"
Morgan, Jr. States
South anti-apartheid organizer, advocate, first black
Desmond Tutu 1931
Africa archbishop of Cape Town
Barbara United
1932 2007 lesbian rights activist
Gittings States
United
Dick Gregory 1932 2017 free speech advocate, civil rights activist, comedian
States
United
Lola Hendricks 1932 activist, local leader in Birmingham Movement
States
Miriam South
1932 2008 singer, anti-apartheid activist
Makeba Africa
United
Andrew Young 1932 civil rights activist, SCLC executive director
States
United independent student leader and self–starting
James Meredith 1933
States Mississippi activist
United
Roy Innis 1934 2017 activist, longtime leader of CORE
States
United
Gloria Steinem 1934 writer, activist, feminist
States
United leader, activist, and organizer in '60s Mississippi
Bob Moses 1935
States Movement
United organizer and Direct Action leader, SCLC's main
James Bevel 1936 2008
States strategist, movement initiator, and movement director
United
Barbara Jordan 1936 1996 legislator, educator, civil rights advocate
States
Charles United
1937 civil rights activist, SNCC leader
Sherrod States
multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of
Fela Kuti 1938 1997 Nigeria the Afrobeat music genre, human rights activist, and
political maverick
United SNCC and SCLC activist and official, strategist,
Diane Nash 1938
States organizer
Claudette United Montgomery Bus Boycott pioneer, independent
1939
Colvin States activist
 Name Born Died Country Notes

United
Jack Herer 1939 2010 pro-hemp activist, speaker, organizer, author
States
United
Julian Bond 1940 2015 activist, politician, scholar, NAACP chairman
States
United SNCC activist, a leading speaker in the civil rights
Prathia Hall 1940 2002
States movement
Bernard United
1940 SCLC and SNCC activist, organizer, and leader
Lafayette States
United Nashville Student Movement and SNCC activist,
John Lewis 1940
States organizer, speaker, congressman
Stokely United
1941 1998 SNCC and Black Panther activist, organizer, speaker
Carmichael States
United
Jesse Jackson 1941 civil rights activist, politician
States
United SCLC activist and organizer, a voting rights
James Orange 1942 2008
States movement leader, trade unionist
Marsha P. United Gay liberation activist, STAR co-
1945 1992
Johnson States founder, AIDS activist with ACT UP
United SNCC activist, women's movement organizer, and
Heather Booth 1945
States founder of the Midwest Academy
United
Dana Beal 1947 pro-hemp activist, organizer, speaker, initiator
States
Ashok Row LGBT rights activist, gay rights pioneer, founder
1947 India
Kavi of Humsafar Trust
activist, chemist, minister, author, leader
of Wilmington Ten, led Commission for Racial Justice
Benjamin United
1948 of the United Church of Christ, campaigner
Chavis States
against Environmental Racism, executive director of
NAACP, national director of Million Man March
United NAACP youth leader and Black Panther activist,
Fred Hampton 1948 1969
States organizer, speaker
United
Judy Shepard 1952 gay rights activist, public speaker
States
Barbara May United advocate for the rights of Native Americans, lesbians,
1954 2002
Cameron States and women
United
Al Sharpton 1954 clergyman, activist, media
States
United
Will Roscoe 1955 gay rights activist
States
Rigoberta Indigenous rights leader, co-founder Nobel Women's
1959 Guatemala
Menchú Initiative
Steven United
1962 gay rights advocate, political activist
Goldstein States
Chee Soon 1962 politician, former political prisoner, democracy and
 Name Born Died Country Notes

Juan Singapore human rights activist

Manasi women's rights activist, founder of Honour for Women
1962 India
Pradhan National Campaign
Indigenous rights and women's rights activist who was
United
Deborah Parker 1970 critical in ensuring the passage of the Violence
States
Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013[3][4]
gender and sexuality rights activist, campaigner
Harish Iyer 1979 India
against child sexual abuse and for animal rights
Bosnia
Edvin Kanka Human rights activist, founder and coordinator
1988 and
Ćudić of UDIK in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Malala advocate for education for girls, 2014 Nobel Peace
1997 Pakistan
Yousafzai Prize laureate