Today is the feast day of Saint George, who was executed in 303 by the emperor Diocletian for refusing to renounce his faith. George was an imperial guard and his family was admired by Diocletian, who attempted to bribe him to worship Roman gods. Later legends about Saint George fighting a dragon mythologize this struggle.  

Today in 1702, Margaret Fell, one of the founders of the Religious Society of Friends (the Quakers) died. She and her daughters were major influences in one of the few Christian denominations who have been consistently and faithfully abolitionist, pacifist, and egalitarian. She was jailed repeatedly for her civil disobedience for religious freedom, and wrote forcefully for equal rights for women and religious minorities.  

Today also marks the martyrdom, in 1865, of Silas Soule, an abolitionist, Union soldier, and whistleblower for the Sand Creek Massacre. He led jail break attempts for those who were helping with the Underground Railroad. Later, during the Sand Creek Massacre of Cheyenne, he disobeyed orders to shoot and reported to congress on the genocidal attack. He was murdered a few months later, likely as retaliation for his truth-telling.

Today also marks the death, in 1960, of Toyohiko Kagawa, Japanese Christian pacifist. Like Cesar Chavez (below), he was an advocate for women’s rights and cooperatives. He was jailed for his public statements of apology for Japanese occupation of China.

Reflection:

Margaret Fell wrote: 

Toyohiko Kagawa said: 

Prayer: God of non-violence, who sends words by the prophets of any gender, race, class, or background, speak a word of non-violent liberation to us in this world of violent oppression. Amen.