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Rain Concert
About the Coalition for Peace Action
Mission
The Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA) is a grassroots citizens organization which brings together people of all ages, backgrounds, professions, and political persuasions in support of three goals: global abolition of nuclear weapons, a peace economy, and a halt to weapons trafficking at home and abroad.
History
In September 1980, a group of religious congregations in the Princeton area joined together to sponsor a Teaching Conference and Interfaith Service on the theme "Can We Reverse the Nuclear Arms Race?" The response was overwhelming - nearly 2,000 attended.
At a follow-up meeting several weeks later, a decision was made to form an ongoing organization dedicated to nuclear disarmament - the Coalition to Reverse the Nuclear Arms Race. In 1981 the name was shortened to the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and the organization expanded beyond Princeton to cover central and southern New Jersey.
In 1982, the Coalition co-led a statewide Nuclear Weapons Freeze referendum that won the support of 66% of New Jersey Voters.
In 1988, to increase coordination and effectiveness, the Coalition's members voted to affiliate with Peace Action, the largest grassroots peace group in the US.
As the Cold War drew to an end in the late 1980's, the Coalition's goals expanded to include the related goals of reaping a major peace dividend - a peace economy - and halting weapons trafficking, both internationally and domestically.
In 1993, to reflect this broader agenda, the members voted to change the name of the organization to the Coalition for Peace Action.
Two closely related non-profit organizations carry out our mission:
Coalition for Peace Action
The Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA) oversees the advocacy work of the organization, including lobbying our elected representatives and voter education. Donations to the CFPA are therefore not tax deductible.
CFPA has a Political Action Committee that organizes lobbying, demonstrations, vigils, briefings, and similar activities; and has standing with the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). There are also currently four active local CFPA affiliates in central and southern New Jersey. A Steering Committee (board) meets monthly to oversee and coordinate policy, budget, and programs.
Peace Action Education
The Peace Action Education Fund (PAEF) has been granted 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status by the IRS and conducts the educational work. Tax deductible contributions can be made to this entity.
PAEF has several working committees:
- The Peace Education Committee organizes the Annual Conference and Interfaith Service for Peace, Week Without Violence, and other community education events as well as sending speakers, fact sheets, videos, and the like to schools, congregations, and community groups.
- The Annual Concert Committee organizes Concerts for Peace to do outreach and raise funds for educational work.
- The Help Increase the Peace (HIP) project , co-sponsored with the American Friends Service Committee, trains youth and adults in the skills of non-violent conflict resolution.
Programs for Peace
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Annual Conference and
Interfaith Service for Peace: |
| Each fall, the CFPA sponsors a major religious and educational gathering on current peace issues. Speakers have included General William Burns, Ben Cohen, Marion Wright Edelman, Daniel Ellsberg, George Kennan, George McGovern, Mary McGrory, Patricia Schroeder, Cyrus Vance, Bishop Leontine Kelly, and Andrew Young, among others. |
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Annual Membership Dinner and Gathering: |
| The CFPA holds an annual gathering and dinner open to all members to learn of and give input to our work. Speakers have included William Sloane Coffin, Admiral Stansfield Turner, Freeman Dyson, and John Kenneth Galbraith, among others. |
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Annual Concert for Peace: |
| Annually since 1986, the CFPA has sponsored a Concert for Peace to raise funds and provide cultural expressions for peace. Performers have included David Byrne, the Paul Winter Consort, Richie Havens, Holly Near, Emerson String Quartet, Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow, Baba Olatunji, Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, Janis Ian, and many others. |
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Peace Voter: |
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Lobbying:
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| Using petitions, letters, phone calls, and personal meetings, the Coalition lobbies New Jersey elected representatives to sponsor and support specific legislation to advance our goals. With its Urgent Action and Email Networks, over 1,000 households and key organizations are alerted when important legislation needs to be advocated to our representatives. |
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Media: |
| Through press conferences, press releases, radio and television programs, letters to the editor, and op-ed pieces, the Coalition conveys information and perspectives on our priorities through the mass media. |
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Public Witness: |
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The Coalition organizes vigils, rallies, and other public demonstrations to call attention of the community, the media, and our elected representatives to the urgent need for advancing our goals. At times the CFPA co-sponsors events with other organizations to increase our effectiveness in advocating initiatives such as childproof handguns and projects such as peaceful conflict resolution. Each year in August the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemoration is held. Speakers and other cultural elements come together in a program in remembrance of the victims of nuclear weapons. |
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Gun Violence Prevention: |
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Working closely with Ceasefire NJ and other groups, the Coalition has played a leading role in gun violence prevention efforts. In 1993, we helped defeat the NRA's effort to rescind New Jersey's Assault Weapon's ban, the first and strongest such ban in the |
Sponsors
Titles for identification only
Philip Anderson, Nobel Laureate in Physics
Harry Belafonte, Singer and Performer
Balfour Brickner*Rabbi, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, New York
Noam Chomsky, Professor of Linguistics, MIT
William Sloane Coffin, President Emeritus, National Peace Action
George Councell, Episcopal Bishop, Diocese of New Jersey
Harvey Cox, Professor, Harvard Divinity School
Sudarshana Devadhar, Bishop, NJ Area, United Methodist Church
Freeman Dyson, Professor Emeritus of Physics, Institute of Advanced Studies
Marian Wright Edelman, President, Children’s Defense Fund
Bob Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of Churches
Daniel Ellsberg, Former Pentagon Analyst
Richard Falk, Professor of International Law, Princeton University
Val Fitch, Nobel Laureate in Physics
John Kenneth Galbraith*, Professor Emeritus of Economics, Harvard University
Thomas Gumbleton, Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
W. Reed Gusciora, Assemblyman, NJ Legislature
George Kennan*, Former US Ambassador to Soviet Union
Coretta Scott King*, President, The King Center
Lawrence J. Korb, Former Assistant, Secretary of Defense
George J. Kourpias, President, International, Association of Machinists
Phyllis Marchand, Mayor, Princeton Township
Anne Markusen, Economist, University of Minnesota
John McPhee, Writer
A. Roy Medley, Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches USA
Douglas A. Palmer, Former Mayor, Trenton
Thomas Pickering, Former US Ambassador to the UN
E. LeRoy Riley, Jr., Bishop, NJ Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church
Patricia Schroeder, Former Representative, US Congress
Joseph Taylor, Nobel Laureate in Physics
Mildred Trotman, Mayor, Princeton Borough
Shirley Turner, Senator, NJ Legislature
Frank von Hippel, Nuclear Policy Analyst, Princeton University
Andrew Young, Former US Ambassador to the United Nations
Howard Zinn*, Historian
* In memoriam
Sponsor titles for identification only
Officers
- Irene Goldman, Chair
- Mark Tolo, Vice-Chair
- Lawrence Kane, Treasurer
- Carol K. Allen, Secretary
- Robert Moore, Executive Director
- Kate Whitman, Assistant Director
