Voltarine DeCleyre
1866-1912
Voltarine DeCleyre was an American “individualist” anarchist opposed to capitalism, marriage, and the state as well as the domination of religion over sexuality and women’s lives.
Voltarine(named after Philosopher Voltaire) grew up in poverty and at age12 was placed in a Catholic convent school which in reverse of her parents expectations, inspired her to embrace atheism. Her family was involved in the Underground Railroad. She taught English and Music in a Jewish community where she learned to read and write in Yiddish.
After the 1887 execution of several Haymarket protesters in Chicago, she became an anarchist.
She survived an assassination attempt by a former pupil, who was rendered insane by a fever. Voltarine immediately forgave him and fought against his punishment, writing
“It would be an outrage against civilization if he were sent to jail for an act which was the product of a diseased brain.”
She became a re-known lecturer and writer for the anticlerical freethought movement.
“When you find out who you’re not allowed to criticize, then you will realize who is in control.”
-Voltarine DeCleyre