User:CaptainEek/Sandbox 2: Electric Boogaloo

Lisa Kalvelage
Born	April 21 1923 Nuremburg, Germany
Died	March 8 2009 Cupertino, California
Known for	Peace activism

Lisa Kalvelage (April 21, 1923 – March 8, 2009) was a German-American peace activist. She is best known for an act of civil disobedience, which became the subject of a song by Pete Seeger.

Early life

Lisa Kalvelage was born on April 21, 1923 in Nuremberg, Germany. In the aftermath of World War II, Lisa met Bernie Kalvelage (born 1924), an American soldier who was part of the Occupation of Germany. They married in 1949, and Lisa immigrated to the United States. They moved to San Jose and had 5 daughters. Lisa was a housewife, but became increasingly involved with the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, an anti-war organization.

Civil disobedience

On May 25, 1966 Kalvelage, along with three other women from the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, attempted to stop the transport of napalm bound for use in the Vietnam War. The women dressed in their Sunday best, to show that not all anti-war activists were hippies. They blocked a forklift and held picket signs, until the arrival of police, when they were arrested and charged with trespassing. The resulting trial garnered international attention, and brought the Peace and Justice Center to prominence. Kalvelage and the other protesters were eventually convicted and sentenced to 90 days in jail.

Legacy

Kalvelage's arrest and trial became the subject of a song by folk singer Pete Seeger, titled "My name is Lisa Kalvelage". The song focused on Kalvelage's court testimony, which invoked the Nuremberg trials as Seeger sang several benefit concerts for the San Jose Peace and Justice Center; Kalvelage introduced him before each.