Special Invitation to Commemorate the 72nd Anniversary of the U.S. Nuclear Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

@White House and Pentagon on Aug. 6 & 9, 2017

Dear Friends,

This is a special invitation to join with the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, and co-sponsors Pax Christi Metro-DC, Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach, Isaiah Project, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns and the Sisters of Mercy—Institute Justice Team, in two nonviolent acts of public witness at the White House and the Pentagon to repent for the U.S. nuclear bombings of Japan on August 6 and August 9, 1945 and to call for the abolition of all nuclear weapons in the U.S. and worldwide. See details below. 

Please share this invitation with your network of friends. I hope you can join us for one or both of these actions.

With hope for a disarmed world,

Art Laffin

August 6-9 Peace Actions Commemorating the U.S. Nuclear Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

 

Seventy-two years ago, on August 6 and 9, the U.S. Government did the “unspeakable: and dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, thus beginning the Nuclear Age. As a result of these bombings, it is estimated that over 135,000 people died in Hiroshima and more than 64,000 in Nagasaki. In the subsequent months and years, many more have died from the effects of burns, radiation sickness and other injuries.

The U.S. has never repented for the use of these weapons of indiscriminate mass murder. Moreover, it has continued to build even deadlier weapons which endanger all of creation. Today the U.S. possesses nearly 7,000 nuclear weapons, many of which are on hair-trigger alert, and proposes to spend an estimated $1 trillion over the next 30 years to modernize it’s existing nuclear arsenal. 

On July 7, 2017, at the conclusion of a special “UN Conference To Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons,” 122 countries voted in favor of historic treaty to legally prohibit nuclear weapons. The “Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,” bans nuclear weapons and establishes a framework for the elimination of nuclear weapons programs – including warheads, materials, delivery systems and facilities. The effort has been grounded in a recognition of the catastrophic harm to both human life and that of planet Earth. All of the countries that bear nuclear arms and many others that either come under their protection or host weapons on their soil boycotted the negotiations. We call on the U.S., the only country to have ever used nuclear weapons, to endorse this treaty and to lead the way to total worldwide nuclear disarmament. (See: http://www.undocs.org/en/a/conf.229/2017/L.3/Rev.1 and  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/07/world/americas/united-nations-nuclear-weapons-prohibition-destruction-global-treaty.html.

When and Where:

Sunday, August 6 @ White House from 7:30 – 8:30 AM (August 6th is the anniversary of the U.S. nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and the Feast of the Transfiguration): There will be a Nonviolent Witness and Prayer Service of Repentance outside the White House. Meet on north side of White House on Pennsylvania Ave–across from Lafayette Park. (8:15 AM is the exact time that the bomb was dropped in Hiroshima)

  

Wednesday, August 9 @ Pentagon from 12:30-1:30 PM (August 9th is the anniversary of U.S. nuclear bombing of Nagasaki): There will be a Nonviolent witness and Prayer Service of Repentance at the Pentagon.

For those driving, please meet on corner of Army-Navy Drive and Fern St. @ 12:15 PM a.m. and process to vigil site at 12:20 PM.

If you are coming by metro, please get off at Pentagon stop–Yellow Line). Take south exit coming out of metro. When you reach the top of escalator go left and then right on the sidewalk going away from building toward South Parking lot. Vigil site is down on the left side behind a bicycle fence.  

 

Please join us!

 

For more info contact Dorothy Day Catholic Worker: 202-360-6416,

artlaffin@hotmail.com