Hladini Devi Dasi: Martyrdom in Liberia's Civil War

The Final Mission

In September 1990, during the height of Liberia's civil war, American Hare Krishna missionary Hladini Devi Dasi (Linda Jury) led a food aid mission in Monrovia. Despite evacuation orders, she remained with five devotees to distribute food to starving civilians through the "Food for Life" program.

"I'm just going to assist the devotees through the hard times."

— Hladini Devi Dasi's final commitment

The Letter That Sealed Their Fate

Distressed by Prince Johnson's indiscriminate killings, the devotees wrote him:

"Stop killing people."

This direct challenge to Johnson's authority triggered immediate retaliation from the warlord who tolerated no dissent.

The Massacre at Stockton Creek

On October 3, 1990, Johnson's death squad stormed the temple at dawn. Seven devotees were abducted and taken to Stockton Creek. Eyewitnesses reported:

"Better you kill me than kill them!"

— Hladini's last words as she leaped at the commander

Hladini was shot first after physically confronting the execution squad leader. All six devotees were murdered on the riverbank.

Yamuna Devi Dasi's Testimony

Yamuna Devi Dasi (1942-2011), one of Śrīla Prabhupāda's original disciples who earned samādhi entombment beside him in Vṛndāvana, contributed this email reflection:

"Linda [Hladini] showed the ultimate devotion - offering her body in service to the Lord's mission. Her fearlessness in the face of butchers mirrors the gopīs' unconditional love. While our hearts break for her physical departure, we know she has attained the supreme destination by sacrificing everything for dharma."

— Yamuna Devi Dasi (2005 email to New Vrindaban community)

This tribute from one of ISKCON's most respected spiritual figures underscores Hladini's significance in the Hare Krishna community.

Advocacy & Unanswered Questions

Your efforts as an Amnesty International Freedom Writer brought critical attention to this case:

• Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) initiated inquiries through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (1990s)
• FBI opened investigation under extraterritorial homicide jurisdiction
• U.S. State Department documented the atrocity but took no concrete action

The delayed accountability reflects troubling geopolitical realities where Johnson was later tacitly tolerated as a "stabilizing" figure in post-war Liberia.

Legacy of Light

Hladini Devi Dasi is memorialized as:

• A martyr in ISKCON's historical records
• An inspiration for humanitarian workers in conflict zones
• A symbol of unresolved war crimes accountability in Liberia

"She gave her life for others - the purest expression of bhakti."

— New Vrindaban Memorial Inscription