Bella Abzug
Bella Abzug was born in the Bronx on July 24, 1920, one
month after the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, giving
women the right to vote. After attending Columbia University
Law School, she practiced civil rights and labor law for
twenty-three years. In 1970, she became the first Jewish
woman elected to Congress. On her first day she introduced
a resolution calling for the withdrawal of troops from Southeast
Asia. Throughout her career, she was known as one of the
most vocal proponents of civil rights for women, as well
as for gays and lesbians. She died in 1998 and is survived
by two daughters.
Resources for Teachers
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Reflections on Working
Towards Peace