Leslie Cagan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leslie Cagan
Leslie Cagan, 2009
Born	1947 The Bronx, New York, U.S.
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 worked for many years on issues like peace and social justice. She was a leader in groups such as United for Peace and Justice and Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. She also led 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 social causes. She went to her first political gathering as a young child in the 1950s. Her parents were once members of the Communist Party USA. Her grandmother was a seamstress and helped start a workers' union. Leslie Cagan studied art history at New York University and graduated in 1968.

Career and Activism

In 1969, Leslie Cagan was one of the first young adults to visit Cuba with the Venceremos Brigade. These groups went to help harvest sugar cane. Cagan told a reporter that they wanted to show support for the Cuban Revolution.

Instead of going to graduate school, Cagan decided to dedicate her life to activism. She has worked on many important causes. These include the anti-war movement, the movement against nuclear weapons, and LGBTQ+ rights. She also supports the feminist movement and wants to improve relations with Cuba. The New York Times has called her a major leader in America's progressive movement.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Cagan was active with the Black Panther Party. She has also spoken out about the imprisonment of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther Party member.

On June 12, 1982, Cagan helped organize a large anti-nuclear rally in New York City. Hundreds of thousands of people attended this event. She also helped lead a major protest for gay and lesbian rights in 1987.

In 2002, Cagan helped start United for Peace and Justice. This group brings together many organizations that are against military actions by the U.S. government. The group began before the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Cagan is against military intervention. She believes that people living under occupation have a right to resist it. She has also raised concerns about U.S. money going to support Israeli actions in Palestinian territories.

Cagan also co-founded the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. This is a socialist group that formed after the Soviet Union broke apart. In 1997, she helped organize the 14th annual World Festival of Youth and Students. Cagan is part of a group that wants to free the Cuban Five. These five Cubans were found guilty in 2001. Cagan believes that activists can learn a lot from the history of the Communist Party.

In 2004, Out magazine named Cagan one of the 100 most influential LGBT people. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her partner, Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, was also an author and activist.

Images for kids

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  Leslie Cagan, 2009