Thousands marched to and rallied at the United Nations Sunday, April 26, to protest nuclear weapons. Two days later 22 were arrested blockading the U.S. Mission to the UN demanding disarmament not more talk.
The United Nations holds a review of the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty every five years. Hundreds of Japanese — including still some Hibakusha (survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings) — come to the U.N. to participate with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in meetings at the UN to demand “no nuclear weapons and no nuclear power.” They also participated in and spoke at the April 24-26 conference, rally, and march called by a coalition of groups under the Peace and Planet banner. Many also watched the “Shadows and Ashes” direct action on April 28 organized by War Resisters League (WRL) and other groups.
For good reason (see photo below) war tax resisters were among those on the streets of New York attempting to draw attention to this issue.
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- #PeaceAndPlanet: 38 days to go. Since President Obama took office, the U.S. has reduced its nuclear weapons stockpile by just 6%–only 309 bombs–while increasing nuclear weapons spending to $35 billion per year. peaceandplanet.org
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- Daniel Sicken of Pioneer Valley War Tax Resistance made his opinion clear during the march from Union Square to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near the U.N. on Sunday, April 26, organized by Peace & Planet: Mobilization for a Nuclear-Free, Peaceful, Just, and Sustainable World. Photo by Ed Hedemann.
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- Rick Gaumer (Connecticut) and Kate Gandall (Brooklyn) hung out at the NWTRCC table during the peace festival at the end of the march at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. Photo by Ed Hedemann.
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- Photo by Bud Korotzer/Desertpeace.
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- NWTRCC supporter and friend Phil Runkel, Wisconsin, stands firm with his message. Phil had just come from an Earth Day arrest at the Pentagon with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance. They had called on the Environmental Protection Agency to do their job in monitoring and bringing an end to the military’s complicity in causing climate chaos and then took that message straight to the Pentagon. Photo by Bud Korotzer/Desertpeace.
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- Activists with Catholic Worker, Jonah House, Veterans for Peace, WRL, NYC Peace Action, Raging Grannies/Granny Peace Brigade, and other groups risked arrest by blocking the entrances to the U.S. Mission to the U.N. After about a half hour of singing, chanting, and leafleting, the police gave their warning and 22 were arrested. This group was at the front door of the Mission. Photo by Bud Korotzer/Desertpeace.
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- The group blocking the side door kept up a steady chant of “Shadows and Ashes, Never Again; Nuclear Weapons, Disarm Now.” During the arrests supporters chanted, “Arrest those who wage war, not those who wage peace.” Photo by Bud Korotzer/Desertpeace.
Video of police warning and arrests at side entrance
— Post by Ruth Benn
The action was great! Bravo and cheers to all of the “senior” activists who participated–I was the youngest one in the paddywagon and holding cell, 56 years old and still sitting-in, because I’m too tired to stand anymore! And I won’t stand for nuclear war! Long Live Nonviolent Direct Action! Power to the Peaceful! The War Resisters League remains the liveliest group on the left! Hi Ho!!!
Great to share the action with you and your WRL comrades, Mike.
It had to be one of the friendliest arrests and mailings in modern memory!
“Jailings,” not, “mailings.”