For centuries people have been fighting for human rights. There are some heroes who have worked relentlessly to establish human rights in the society. Here are the top five heroes of human rights.
1. Chief Joseph (1840–1904)
He was born at a time when there were many disputes over land treaties. This led to years of injustice from the American military. He became the chief in 1871 and worked hard to stop the violence. He negotiated a deal with the federal government that lets his tribe be on their land. He plead on behalf of his tribe in 1879 to the President Rutherford B. Hayes. He was a great leader and public advocate. He protested against the injustices in policies of the US towards people.
2. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948)
He fought to bring independence to India. He became an inspiration for movements of civil rights, nonviolence, and freedom throughout the world. In 2007, the UN General Assembly declared his birthday as the International Day of Non-Violence.
3. Oskar Schindler (1908–1974)
He was a Nazi party member and an industrialist. During World War II, he risked his life to rescue more than 1,000 Jews form deportation to Auschwitz.
4. Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)
Nelson Mandela was the leader of the anti-apartheid movement and fought to get rid of racism in the country. An international campaign was inspired by his release from prison where he was serving for conspiracy to overthrow the government. He spent 27 years in prison and was released in 1990. He got the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
5. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968)
He was a great leader in the African-American civil rights movement. He is known for his nonviolent demonstrations. He always spoke against injustice. He received the Nobel Peace Prize.
These leaders are great inspirations to today’s generations. Their contribution to human rights will never be forgotten. They will always be remembered for the good cause they fought for all their lives.