Ione Biggs

Ione Biggs (May 6, 1916 – December 16, 2005) was an advocate for human rights and world peace. She worked with numerous community organizations and was involved with multiple women organizations for the United Nations. Biggs was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1983.

Biography

Biggs was born in Central, Cleveland, Ohio, on May 6, 1916. She graduated from Central High School and started working for the city's recreation department in 1934. She joined Cleveland's police force in 1943, one of the first African-American women officers on the force. She filed a complaint, eventually winning a settlement against the court. In 1985, she attended the United Nations International Conference on Women in Nairobi, Kenya. In 1994, she organized Cleveland's delegation to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women. For the 1980 film 9 to 5, Biggs had the opportunity to advise Jane Fonda on aspects of the script.

She was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1983, who described her as an "advocate for world peace and social justice". In 2002, she was awarded the Nelson Mandela World Leader Medal.