The Woman Who Stood in the Way
- Beki Lantos
- Sep 8, 2025
- 2 min read
Rachel Corrie
Rachel Corrie was a 23-year-old college student from Washington State. She studied poetry, painted murals, and believed in non-violence. In 2003, she joined the International Solidarity Movement and traveled to Gaza to protect Palestinian homes from demolition by the Israel military (targeted for harbouring smuggling tunnels and militants).
She wasn’t armed. She wasn’t violent. She stood - literally - in front of bulldozers, hoping her presence would stop them. On March 16, 2003, she was crushed to death by a bulldozer while trying to shield a home.
Her death sparked international outrage and fierce debate. Despite legal rulings in both district and Supreme Court ruling that Corrie was responsible for placing herself in harm’s way and that the military was not liable, to some, she was naive. To others, a martyr for human rights. But what’s undeniable is this: she believed that global citizenship required global responsibility, and she was willing to die for it.
Rachel Corrie wasn’t an activist by birth. She was a young woman with a conscience and a passport who chose to act. In an age of disengagement and digital activism, her story reminds us:
It’s not enough to post - sometimes, we must physically show up.
If you want to learn more about Rachel Corrie, here are some resources:
Let Me Stand Alone: The Journals of Rachel Corrie, by Rachel Corrie
My Name is Rachel Corrie, by Rachel Corrie
A detailed article about Rachel Corries final days in Gaza, by Mother Jones
Ⓒ September 2025. Beki Lantos. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the author.
Comments