Leslie Cagan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leslie Cagan
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Leslie Cagan, 2009
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| Born | 1947 The Bronx, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Social justice advocate LGBT advocate |
| Years active | 1969 - Present |
| Known for | Pacifism Gender Equality Advocacy |
Leslie Cagan is an American activist and organizer. She has spent her life working for peace and fairness for all people. She has been a leader in groups like United for Peace and Justice and Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. She also used to be in charge of Pacifica Radio.
Early Life and Education
Leslie Cagan was born in 1947 in The Bronx, New York City. Her family was Jewish and very involved in political causes. She went to her first political gathering as a young child in the 1950s with her parents. Her grandmother was a seamstress and helped start a workers' union. Leslie graduated from New York University in 1968 with a degree in art history.
Starting Her Career
In 1969, Leslie Cagan was one of the first young people to join the Venceremos Brigade. These groups traveled to Cuba to help harvest sugar cane. Cagan told a reporter that they wanted to show their support for the Cuban Revolution by working alongside the Cuban people.
Instead of going to graduate school, Cagan decided to dedicate her life to promoting important causes. She has worked on many different issues. These include the anti-war movement, the movement against nuclear weapons, and the fight for LGBT rights. She also supported the feminist movement and worked to improve relations between the U.S. and Cuba. The New York Times has called her a major leader in the country's progressive movement.
Working for Change
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Cagan was involved with the Black Panther Party. She has also spoken out about the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
On June 12, 1982, Cagan helped organize a huge anti-nuclear rally in New York City. Hundreds of thousands of people attended this event. She also helped lead a major protest in 1987 for gay and lesbian rights in Washington, D.C.
In 2002, Cagan helped create United for Peace and Justice. This group brings together over 1,300 organizations from around the world. They work against what they see as government policies of constant war. The group started before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Cagan is against military action and believes U.S. forces should not stay in Iraq. She has said that people who are occupied have a right to resist that occupation. Regarding U.S. relations with Israel, Cagan has stated that U.S. money helps support the Israeli presence in Palestinian areas.
Cagan also helped start the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. This socialist group formed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In 1997, she helped organize the 14th annual World Festival of Youth and Students. Cagan is a member of a group that wants to free the Cuban Five. These five Cubans were convicted in 2001. Cagan believes that people can learn a lot from the history of political parties about how to work for peace.
In 2004, Out magazine included Cagan on its list of the 100 most influential LGBT people. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her partner, author and activist Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, passed away in 2018. Melanie was a founder of Jews for Racial & Economic Justice.
Images for kids
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Leslie Cagan, 2009
