SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Monday marked 76 years since the U.S. bombing of Nagasaki during World War II, an anniversary local peace activists recalled in an effort to highlight the continuing danger of nuclear war.
The Syracuse Peace Council, a community-based organizations that has many social justice and human rights campaigns, held a vigil in remembrance of the bombings at the state office building in Syracuse. The attack was only the second use of nuclear weapons on civilians, the other one being the Hiroshima bombing three days earlier. The peace council aims to build support for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
The group’s message came against a backdrop of growing global concerns. Over the past few months, there have been multiple developments in the realm of nuclear warfare across the world: A nuclear deal with Iran was slowed and the secretary of state has showed growing concern with the nuclear arsenal that China has created.
Peace council member Diane Swords said Monday that she believes public support from the community could help on a national level. After the vigil, Swords told NCC News, “Individuals can make a difference, and we can get together with other individuals and groups and we can work from that level up through the levels of government and influence policy.”
Mayor Ben Walsh also attended the conference to show his support for the peace council and its campaign, known as the “Back From the Brink.” The initiative aims to get rid of all the nuclear weapons in the world and accomplish that by having the U.S. negotiate with other countries and states to destroy their own nuclear weapons.
“Back From the Brink” has the support of 354 organizations, six state legislative bodies and 50 municipalities including the city of Syracuse.
