Fay Honey Knopp facts for kids

Fay "Honey" Knopp (born Irving, August 15, 1918 – August 10, 1995) was an American Quaker minister. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs. Honey Knopp spent her life working for peace, civil rights (equal rights for all people), and changing how prisons work. She believed in helping people and making the world a fairer place.

Who Was Fay "Honey" Knopp?

Fay "Honey" Knopp was an important person who worked to make society better. She was a Quaker minister, which means she was a spiritual leader in the Quaker community. She was also a strong supporter of peace and equal rights for everyone. Honey Knopp believed that prisons should be used less often and that there were better ways to help people.

Her Early Life and Education

Fay Birdie Irving was born on August 15, 1918, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Her parents were Mollie Feldman and Alexander Ajolo Irving. In 1935, she graduated from Warren Harding High School as the top student.

After high school, she worked as a buyer for women's fashion. In 1941, she married Burton Knopp. They had two children, a daughter named Sari and a son named Alex Knopp, who became a politician. Fay Knopp also studied at several art schools and universities. These included the Hartford Art School and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Making a Difference: Her Career

Honey Knopp dedicated her life to helping others and promoting peace. She started her work by attending a peace protest in 1939. She was inspired by the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi, who believed in peaceful protest.

Standing Up for Peace

In 1955, Honey Knopp began visiting people who were in prison because they refused to fight in wars. These people were called conscientious objectors. They believed that war was wrong and chose not to join the military.

In 1962, she traveled to Geneva, Switzerland. She was part of a group called Women Strike for Peace. They protested against nuclear testing because it could harm children's health. That same year, Knopp became a Quaker. This allowed her to visit people in federal prisons as a "minister of record."

Helping People in Prison

In 1968, Honey Knopp and Bob Horton started an organization called Prisoner Visitation and Support. This group helped people who were in prison. At first, they focused on people who refused to fight in the Vietnam War.

In 1976, Knopp created the Prison Research Education Action Program. She also wrote a book called Instead of Prisons: A Handbook for Abolitionists. In her book, she suggested three main goals:

• Stop building new prisons.
• Reduce the number of people in prison.
• Find other ways to solve problems instead of putting people in prison.

A Safer Society

In 1974, Knopp founded the Safer Society Program. She was the director of this program until 1993. A special school in Rutland (city), Vermont is named the Fay Honey Knopp Memorial School in her honor. This school helps teenage boys.

Honey Knopp also worked for the American Friends Service Committee. She was a director for their New York Region. She also directed peace education projects in Philadelphia. In 1978, Governor Ella Grasso recognized Knopp as one of the 100 Outstanding Women of Connecticut.

Her Legacy

Fay "Honey" Knopp passed away on August 10, 1995, in Shoreham, Vermont. She was 76 years old. Her husband, Burton Knopp, lived until he was 93, passing away in 2010. Honey Knopp left behind a legacy of working for peace, civil rights, and a fairer justice system. Her work continues to inspire people today.