Peacebuilding alum talks practical app of nonviolence
Her name is Leymah Gbowee, a 2007 graduate of Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Before coming to EMU, Gbowee emerged into the world spotlight when she and a brave group of ordinary women, mostly mothers, banded together to do the unimaginable – use nonviolent methods to confront Liberia’s despotic president Charles Taylor and his warlord opponents.
Both sides used child soldiers who terrorized the population, including raping a large percentage of Liberia’s women and girls. The mothers dressed in white, held up hand-written signs saying “We Want Peace” and began to appear wherever the warring leaders could be found. They also told the men in their families “no sex” until you do everything in your power to stop the war. Read more
Plight of women in Liberia focus of film screening at EMU
“Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” a gripping film account of a group of brave and visionary women who demanded peace for the African nation of Liberia, will be shown 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 in Lehman Auditorium at Eastern Mennonite University.
Their leader, Leymah Gbowee, who organized the women and succeeded in pressuring those at the negotiating table to come to agreement to end the long, brutal war, will speak and answer questions following the film showing. Read more
