Jean Gordon, Little Rock activist for peace and civil rights, dies at 97:
1. Jean Gordon Little Rock activist peace civil rights
2. Jean Gordon Little Rock activist peace and civil rights dies.
Remembering Jean Gordon: A Life Dedicated to Equality and Peace
Little Rock, Arkansas – Jean Gordon, a prominent human rights activist and advocate for equality and peace, passed away on Thursday at the age of 97. Her tireless efforts began during the school segregation crisis of 1957-59 and continued throughout the Cold War and into the new millennium.
A Champion for Civil Rights
Gordon, born in Little Rock in 1926, gained recognition as a member of the anti-racist Women’s Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools. This committee vehemently opposed the closure of Little Rock high schools by then-Governor Orval Faubus in an attempt to resist federal racial desegregation.
Despite facing backlash and hostility, Gordon remained steadfast in her support for school integration. She faced numerous challenges and even received hate-filled phone calls. However, she continued to speak out against racism and offered a message of hope and unity.
Gordon’s commitment to equality extended beyond the fight for civil rights. She also actively advocated for peace and nuclear disarmament. As a member of the Arkansas Peace Center and the board of Arkansas Peace Links, she tirelessly worked towards reducing violence and militarism and campaigned for the abolishment of nuclear weapons.
A Life of Activism and Advocacy
Gordon’s passion for social change and her interest in other cultures led her to study philosophy at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Her travels and experiences abroad broadened her perspective and shaped her compassionate outlook on life.
Throughout her lifetime, Gordon played a pivotal role in various organizations and initiatives. She was a founding member of the Whole Person Center, which promoted holistic consciousness. Additionally, she helped create the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).
Gordon’s dedication to education and community service was evident through her involvement on the boards of Henderson State University, the Literacy Council of Pulaski County, and the Friends of the Repertory Theater. She also served on the pastoral care board at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
A Lasting Legacy
Gordon’s impact extended beyond her own activism. She instilled a spirit of empathy and activism in her children, leaving a lasting legacy of social consciousness and compassion.
Her daughter, Anne Perry, reminisced about their involvement in demonstrations and rallies during the civil rights movement. Perry vividly remembered singing “We Shall Overcome” with hundreds of other demonstrators on the steps of the Arkansas Capitol and expressed regret for not being able to witness Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech in person.
Gordon’s activism remained an integral part of her life until the very end. Even at the age of 97, while battling cancer, she continued to fight for her beliefs. Perry fondly recalled how her mother sat at a card table in the lobby of a movie theater, distributing anti-war pamphlets during the release of the film “Oppenheimer,” which focused on the development of atomic weapons.
Jean Gordon will be remembered as a remarkable individual who dedicated her life to promoting equality, peace, and social change. Her passion and unwavering commitment to justice serve as an inspiration to all.
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– Jean Gordon Little Rock activist for peace and civil rights
– Jean Gordon Little Rock activist for peace and civil rights dies.
