Rachel Corrie
An American activist whose death under an Israeli military bulldozer transformed her into a global symbol of nonviolent protest in the Palestinian struggle.
1979–2003 (age 24)·American activist and diarist·Birthday: April 10·Generation X
Biography
Rachel Corrie grew up in Olympia, Washington, a thoughtful young woman whose worldview was shaped by a deep sense of justice. While a student at The Evergreen State College, she became involved with the International Solidarity Movement, a group committed to using nonviolent direct action to challenge the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. In early 2003, at age 23, she traveled to the Gaza Strip, where she lived with Palestinian families in Rafah. Her vivid emails and diaries, sent home, painted a harrowing picture of life under military siege. On March 16, 2003, while acting as a human shield in an attempt to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home, she was struck and killed by an Israeli armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozer. Her death sparked international outrage and debate, and her posthumously published writings cemented her legacy as a poignant voice for empathy and resistance.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rachel was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rachel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Rachel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Died at 24
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Key Achievements
- Her extensive personal writings from Gaza were published posthumously as 'Let Me Stand Alone,' offering a powerful firsthand account of life under occupation.
- Her death became a catalyst for numerous plays, documentaries, and ongoing international activism focused on Palestinian rights.
- She served as a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement in Rafah, Gaza, during a period of intense house demolitions.
Did You Know?
She was a talented writer and artist from a young age, winning a prize for an essay on world hunger in the fifth grade.
Her story was adapted into the acclaimed one-woman play 'My Name Is Rachel Corrie,' compiled from her diaries and emails.
The city of Rafah, where she was killed, named a street in her memory.
“I think it is a good idea for us all to drop everything and devote our lives to making this stop.”
