August 15: TODAY'S INSPIRING WOMEN

Aurora Castillo

Aurora Castillo, a community activist was born today in 1913. She co-founded Mothers of East Los Angeles which worked against a proposed prison and hazardous waste dump in East Los Angeles.

Fay Knopp

Fay Knopp, a pacifist, feminist, prison reformer, and member of Women Strike for Peace, was born today in 1918. She pioneered more humane treatment of prisoners based on compassion and a belief that people can change themselves.

Maxine Waters

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) was born today in 1938. Before becoming a U.S. Representative, Waters served in the California State Assembly, to which she was first elected in 1976. As an Assemblywoman, she advocated divestment from South Africa's apartheid regime. In Congress, she has been an outspoken opponent of the Iraq War and of Republican Presidents George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump.