8 activists from Iowa who changed the game

Iowa has a rich history of activism that dates back centuries. Check out these eight heroes who have fought for all types of underrepresented groups.

Activism means something different to everyone, but it’s generally about pushing for a better tomorrow by creating change in a specific arena, whether you’re vocal about women’s rights, environmental protections, ending the industrial prison complex, or any other number of challenges facing Iowa—and the greater United States—right now. Luckily, we live in a state where people aren’t afraid to make their voices heard.

The ACLU, for one, has been active in Iowa since 1935, when it became the nation’s fifth such chapter, and one Iowan even combines their love of Latin music with environmental activism to get the good word out. These are, of course, only two examples of crucial work being done in the Hawkeye State, and there are many ways you can get involved or learn on your own, including educating yourself by reading books centered on LGBTQ+ folks to celebrate Pride Month (or any other time) or even attending a town hall meeting.

Another poignant way to learn and lead the path toward a brighter future is to look to others who have already done or are currently doing impactful activism work. This is precisely why we’ve gathered eight gems from throughout Iowa’s history who have championed the rights of underrepresented people in big ways. From current Hollywood stars to nineteenth-century suffragists, these heroes show that Iowans don’t need capes to enact change (though we won’t judge you if you purchase a cape anyway).

1. Danai Gurira

You might know Zimbabwean-American actor Danai Gurira for “The Walking Dead” and “Black Panther,” but the star is also a prominent activist. Hailing from Grinnell, Iowa, though she was then raised in Zimbabwe, Gurira has used her powerful voice to shed light on issues like mass poverty and the continued toll that HIV and AIDS have on people worldwide. Her efforts have long gone to women in need as well, with Gurira being at the forefront of the modern women’s rights movement since going mainstream with her career. 

In fact, the successful playwright was acknowledged for her work by the United Nations in 2018 when the organization granted her the title of UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. This wasn’t just an honorary title, either; Gurira has spoken to world leaders in support of substantial change.

“Eighty cents. When was the last time you handled 80 cents? Paid for something that was all that it cost? It is not even enough to buy a pack of gum in this day and age, but it can buy you a child to rape,” Gurira said in an April 2024 address to the United Nations, referring to human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “That is the world that we are still in, where conflict zones are terror zones for women and children.”

She would go on to explain that mainstream media doesn’t cover the atrocities that happen in some places, which can leave vulnerable people even more vulnerable, and urge folks to make changes to help everyone, not only those under the direct purview of the media. This is just one example of Gurira’s activism work, which has spanned many years, but it’s proof that she’s one Iowan who always puts her money where her mouth is.

Danai Gurira on a panel in a white dress at San Diego Comic Con. (Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0)

2. Virginia Harper

Living from 1929 to 1997, Virginia Harper saw a lot of change not only in her home state of Iowa but also across the nation and around the world. These years saw several large-scale wars, ample civil unrest, and even the end of legalized segregation with the 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.

She wasn’t just a witness, though. No, the Fort Madison native used her time and voice to protect underrepresented people throughout Iowa, even working her way up to secretary and, subsequently, president of the area’s NAACP chapter. She held roles in the organization for several decades, allowing her to keep an even closer eye on the civil issues facing her local communities. 

According to a post from the official Visit Fort Madison Facebook account, Harper organized a movement to object to a proposal from the Iowa Department of Transportation, which wanted to create a new highway that would actively force hundreds of people from their homes. Even worse, the majority of these citizens were of Mexican and African descent. Having no part of it, the then-39-year-old activist rallied against the proposed plan for years, including acquiring signatures against it and contacting lawyers to see what feasible options lay ahead for her movement.

According to an article from the Iowa Women’s Archives at the University of Iowa, Harper described the neighborhoods that would be most affected by the plan as “the only truly multi-ethnic area in the city,” which is why she knew she needed to act. Speaking to the Evening Democrat in response to the highway being needed to help lower traffic demands, she later said, “This is not quite the time for sitting back and telling minority group members and lower income whites that they must sacrifice for the good of society. They’ve been sacrificing all their lives and are accustomed to being used.”

With firsthand experience like this under her belt, we could all stand to learn a thing or two from Harper.

3. Zach Wahls

Zach Wahls is currently the minority leader of the Iowa Senate, but he’s not just a politician. Wahls has long been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community thanks to his upbringing with two devoted mothers, and he generally stands for underrepresented people and their stories.

Wahls comes to us by way of Wisconsin, but he’s called the Hawkeye State home for decades, having moved here when he was only 9 years old. He stayed local for college, too, graduating from the University of Iowa in 2016, but his activism work began even before that. According to HuffPost, Wahls jumped into action in early 2012 when a lesbian mom was forced out of Boy Scout proceedings because of her sexual orientation, including starting a petition for her. “As an Eagle Scout and as someone who has two lesbian parents, I wanted to make sure that I could be a part of making this happen,” Wahls told the Chicago Phoenix at the time.

Notably, Wahls published his book, “My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family,” which recounted memories from his childhood in hopes of normalizing same-sex parents, the same year. In fact, he later told NPR, “In my 19 years, not once have I ever been confronted by an individual who realized independently that I was raised by a gay couple. And you know why? Because the sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character.”

With this much passion and his ever-growing following, Wahls was eventually able to earn a spot in the Iowa Senate, where he continues to fight for human rights today.

Author and activist Zach Wahls photographed with a group of students at Roanoke College. (roanokecollege/CC BY 2.0)

4. Elizabeth Bunnell Read

Elizabeth Bunnell Read, who wrote under the name Lizzie B. Read, was a well-traveled activist from the nineteenth century who lived from 1832 to 1909, long enough to see the end of slavery in the United States and so much more. While Read was born in New York, she spent a lot of time later in life in Iowa and is even buried in Algona, Iowa, despite dying in Arkansas.

Read learned early in life that she was drawn to the power of the pen and began writing for publications, and from there, she cemented herself as a tried-and-true suffragist. More specifically, the William G. Pomeroy Foundation details how Read was an editor of the newspaper Upper Des Moines and later an editor of the suffragist publication The Woman’s Standard.

Read’s activism through her journalism was undeniable. Upon her death, a local newspaper called her a “pioneer newspaper woman” who “was an ardent advocate of the ballot for woman at a time when the notion was much more unpopular than it is now.”

Earlier in her career, she founded The Mayflower, a paper that sought to spread the good word about women’s rights, too. In part, the inaugural issue noted that the paper’s contents moving forward would showcase women’s rights as: “That woman, as one-half of humanity, has the same natural inalienable rights as man; that Woman as the Mother of the race, has a natural right to the guardianship of her children; that as a co-worker with man in all that is good and ennobling, she has the same right to herself, and her individual sovereignty…”

With a mission statement like this, it’s clear that Read took her politics very seriously, and she pursued active change until the day she died, which, sadly, was 11 years before women’s suffrage finally became law.

5. Frank Cordaro

Frank Cordaro might split his time between Iowa and Nebraska now, but he was raised in Des Moines, attended the University of Northern Iowa, and remains a peace activist in the area. Cordaro’s activism hinges on both general peace activism, which has landed him in prison more than once, and specific activism regarding Catholicism. You see, Cordaro was a priest for a while, but later in life, he realized that Catholicism has some fundamental flaws, making him want to speak out. Among his criticisms is the church’s lack of women priests—because why shouldn’t women be allowed to serve the church to their fullest capacities if they want to?

According to New Dream, Cordaro heavily opposed the United States’ war efforts in Iraq in the early aughts. He’s a firm believer that violence isn’t always necessary, and that stance hasn’t changed over time. In 2017, for example, he attended a rally outside Des Moines’ St. Ambrose Cathedral, where he said to the crowd, “Jesus would never kill anybody from a computer stall in Iowa,” referring to the U.S. remotely carrying out air strikes with drones in the Middle East (via WHO13). As for what he wanted a local bishop to understand, he said, “We are coming to the Bishop as Catholics to say, ‘Bishop Pates, authentic Catholics need to know moral teachings about drone warfare, so that they can morally judge this command center in their midst.’”

Overall, Cordaro isn’t afraid to walk the walk, and as an Iowan, it’s inspiring to see.

6. Mary Beth Tinker

Des Moines native Mary Beth Tinker is a youth rights activist who knows a thing or two about the struggle for young folks to live their fullest lives because she experienced a roadblock or two in her own childhood. Specifically, she’s the Tinker in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District.

Here’s the lowdown, according to Oyez: Tinker sported a black armband to Warren Harding Junior High School, which was a common symbol of opposition to the Vietnam War in the 1960s. The school didn’t appreciate her having her own opinions on the war and forbade her from wearing it, and she took the school to court and won. This was a landmark case for youth rights, and Tinker has continued to champion young people to this very day, including through ongoing speaking engagements.

Per Tinker Tour USA, Tinker’s official website, the activist’s commitment to human rights comes to her earnestly. Tinker’s parents instilled in her the notion to be vocal about what’s right, leading her and her parents to all become involved in the civil rights movement. With beginnings like this, it’s incredibly clear why Tinker went on to become a force for human rights.

Mary Beth Thinker giving a talk at E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in a black-and-blue outfit. (E.W. Scripps School of Journalism/CC BY-SA 2.0)

7. Jake Grobe

Jacob “Jake” Grobe is a current Des Moines resident who demands that people and corporations do better so that we all have a healthy planet to live on in the years to come. He makes this mission perfectly clear in his LinkedIn bio: “Empowering people to fight for a world that puts people and the planet above profits for a few.”

Grobe studied business management at Bradley University and undoubtedly puts the skills he learned there to good use, organizing people to join his movement and keeping his goals clear and concise. Grobe can be seen at protests throughout Iowa, and he helps other attendees understand that climate change not only affects all of us but also hits already marginalized people harder. “It’s Black, Indigenous, it’s poor working families that are unable to recover from flash floods, from droughts from wildfires. Climate crisis increases all inequalities,” he said to a crowd at an August 2021 gathering outside of Des Moines’ MidAmerican Energy headquarters while wearing a shirt that read “REVOLUTION NOW” (via Iowa Public Radio). 

More recently, Grobe attended a Des Moines protest in January 2025 as a result of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) moving into the area and beginning to arrest folks following Donald Trump’s second inauguration. “We’re showing Donald Trump and the world that we are against his agenda,” he said at the rally held outside the state’s Capitol building (via We Are Iowa). “That agenda is for the billionaires. Trump’s agenda is to push working-class people against each other.” Grobe would go on to say, “We’re here to defend immigrants because Trump is using immigrants as a scapegoat for the problems that he and people like him are inflicting on us.”

Ultimately, hundreds of people flocked to the scene to make their voices heard alongside Grobe, and while ICE has continued its operations, the people will continue to oppose it.

8. Meridel Le Sueur

Meridel Le Sueur saw almost a full century of change in her lifetime (1900 to 1996), and on the feminist front, she played a large role. Born in Murray, Iowa, Le Sueur was a writer of poetry and fiction who focused on working-class problems, especially as they intersected with women’s rights.

“The people are a story that never ends,” she famously started a poem from her 1945 book “North Star Country.” Doubling down on how everyday people must always persevere, the poem ends, “Some of the crop will be saved, some will return and/Bear the strength of the kernel, that from the bloodiest year/Some survive to outfox the frost.” The frost here might remind you of the famous Shakespeare line “Now is the winter of our discontent” from his play “Richard III,” and you’d be right to align these notions. Shakespeare and Le Sueur’s sentiments both simultaneously hinge on revolution and exhaustion.

Much of Lu Sueur’s work is inspired by the Great Depression, which began when she was just 29 years old. Everyone struggled during this period of economic hardship, but women were left in an arguably worse position. Home life was hard with money and food drying up, and many women weren’t allowed to work, while many who did experienced less-than-stellar working conditions. Lu Sueur wrote about issues like this and encouraged generations of women to begin expressing their thoughts, frustrations, feelings, and more through the written word. She also attended many protests throughout her life, including touring around and visiting college protests. She was friends with fellow writer-activists like Adrienne Rich and Audre Lorde, as seen above.

Ultimately, Lu Sueur is someone whose work Iowans should still study today.

Activist Meridel Le Sueur (middle) smiling with Audre Lorde (left) and Adrienne Rich (right). (K. Kendall/ CC BY 2.0)

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.