March 14

Fannie Lou Hamer was born on October 6, 1917, in Montgomery County, Mississippi, into a family of sharecroppers. She became a key organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party in 1964. Hamer's powerful testimony at the 1964 Democratic National Convention drew national attention to racial violence and voter suppression. She led voter registration drives despite facing arrests, beatings, and threats, demonstrating extraordinary courage and resilience. After suffering a stroke in 1964, she continued grassroots activism and philanthropy, supporting local communities. Hamer died on March 14, 1977, and is remembered as a fearless champion of civil rights and social justice.

Born in 1912, Lucie Aubrac was a history teacher in Lyon who joined the French Resistance after the Nazi occupation. She co-founded the clandestine newspaper Libération and orchestrated daring jail-break operations, including freeing her husband from Gestapo custody. Aubrac’s bravery and strategic acumen made her a symbol of resistance and hope. After the war, she continued her career in education and advocacy, speaking widely about wartime experiences. She passed away in 2007, leaving a lasting legacy of courage and resilience.