Marii Hasegawa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marii Hasegawa
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Marii Kyogoku (later Hasegawa), from the 1938 yearbook of the University of California, Berkeley
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| Born | September 17, 1918 |
| Died | July 1, 2012 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | BA from University of California at Berkeley in 1938 |
| Known for | peace activist, national president of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom 1971–1975 |
| Successor | Naomi Marcus |
Marii Hasegawa (born September 17, 1918, died July 1, 2012) was an American woman who worked for peace for many years. She was a leader in an organization called the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, especially during the Vietnam War.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Marii Kyogoku was born in Hiroshima, Japan. Her family moved to the United States in 1919. Her father was a Buddhist priest who was asked to serve Buddhists in California.
Marii grew up in Lompoc. She studied at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1938, she earned a degree in home economics.
Life During World War II
During World War II, the U.S. government forced many Japanese Americans to move to special camps. In 1942, Marii and her family were sent to the Topaz War Relocation Center. They had to stay there for three years.
In 1945, her family was released from the camp. They then moved to Philadelphia.
Working for Peace
In Philadelphia, Marii Hasegawa started working with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). This group works to achieve peace around the world. WILPF had spoken out against the camps where Japanese Americans were held. They also helped people after they were released.
Marii worked with WILPF for 50 years. She held many important jobs there. From 1971 to 1975, she was the national president of the organization.
Leading During the Vietnam War
Marii Hasegawa was the president of WILPF during the Vietnam War. She helped organize protests against the war. She also led a group that went to North Vietnam to talk about peace.
In 1996, Marii Hasegawa received the Niwano Peace Prize. This award honors people who work for peace.
Later Life and Legacy
In 2001, Marii Hasegawa moved to South Hadley, Massachusetts. She continued to work for peace and understanding between different religions. She passed away on July 1, 2012.
In 2012, a movie about her life was shown at film festivals. It was called Marii Hasegawa: Gentle Woman of a Dangerous Kind. In 2018, she was named one of the Library of Virginia's Virginia Women in History.
See also
In Spanish: Marii Hasegawa para niños
- List of peace activists
