Garry Davis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Garry Davis
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| Born |
Sol Gareth Davis
27 July 1921 Bar Harbor, Maine, U.S.
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| Died | 24 July 2013 (aged 91) |
| Citizenship | United States (1921–1948) Stateless (1948–2013) |
| Alma mater | Carnegie Mellon University East West University |
| Occupation | Peace and world citizenship activist |
| Organization | International Registry of World Citizens World Service Authority |
| Known for | Popularizing world citizenship World Passport |
| Children | Kristina Starr Davis Troy Davis Athena Davis Kim Davis |
Garry Davis (born Sol Gareth Davis, 1921–2013) was a famous peace activist. He is best known for giving up his American citizenship. In 1948, he spoke at the United Nations. He wanted a world government to help stop wars between countries.
His ideas got a lot of attention around the world. Famous thinkers like Albert Camus and Albert Einstein supported him. He started a group called the World Service Authority in 1953. This group works to teach people about world citizenship. They even issue "world government documents," like the World Passport. This passport is based on the idea that everyone is a citizen of the world. Before becoming an activist, Garry Davis was a Broadway actor. He also served as a bomber pilot in World War II.
Early Life
Garry Davis was born in Bar Harbor, Maine, in the United States. His parents were Meyer and Hilda Davis. He finished high school in 1940. Later, he went to the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Today, this school is known as Carnegie Mellon University.
Garry's Career
Before his activism, Garry Davis was a Broadway actor. He was a backup for the famous actor Danny Kaye. He also had a main role in a Broadway show called Three to Get Ready.
During World War II, Davis joined the U.S. Army. He became a pilot for a B-17 bomber plane.
Fighting for a World Government
Garry Davis was deeply affected by the war. His own brother died in the war. Davis also felt sad about the people he hurt by bombing a city during the war. He worried that nuclear weapons could destroy humanity. Because of these feelings, he gave up his American citizenship in 1948. He then declared himself a "citizen of the world."
In France, many people supported Garry Davis. Famous writers like Albert Camus and André Breton helped him. A kind priest named Abbé Pierre also joined his cause. On November 19, 1948, Davis interrupted a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly. He told them, "We, the people, want peace." He believed only a world government could bring this peace. He said that separate countries were leading to war. He and his supporters gathered over 15,000 people in Paris. They asked the UN to recognize the rights of all people.
In January 1949, Davis started the International Registry of World Citizens in Paris. More than 750,000 people signed up. In 1953, he created the World Government of World Citizens. Its goal was to protect basic human rights.
In 1954, he also formed the World Service Authority. This group issues its own "fantasy passports" and other documents. Garry Davis first used his World Passport in 1956 when he traveled to India. Some countries reportedly let him enter using this passport.
Davis also tried to get involved in politics. He ran for mayor in Washington, D.C. in 1986. He was a candidate for the "World Citizen Party." He also ran for president in the 1988 U.S. election. Davis wrote many books about his ideas for world citizenship.
At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Davis introduced a special currency. It was based on solar power. These "kilowatt dollars" were an early idea for reducing pollution. In 2012, at age 90, Davis started a weekly radio show. It was called "World Citizen Radio."
Helping Others
In 2012, Garry Davis sent a World Passport to Julian Assange. Assange is the founder of WikiLeaks. Just weeks before he passed away, Davis sent a World Passport to Edward Snowden. Snowden is a famous whistleblower. Davis sent it to him in Moscow through the Russian authorities.
Death
Garry Davis passed away on July 24, 2013. He was in South Burlington, Vermont. He died just three days before his 92nd birthday. He was survived by his children and other family members.
