Born in Concord in 1890, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn became a nationally known labor leader, civil libertarian, and feminist organizer. She joined the Industrial Workers of the World at age 17, where her fiery speeches earned her the nickname "The Rebel Girl." As a founder of the American Civil Liberties Union, she advocated for women's rights, including support for their right to vote and access to birth control. She joined the Communist Party in 1936 and was sent to prison in 1951 under the notorious Smith Act.