In Washington D.C. Rally
Our next event for the day was in Washington, D.C. but, unbelievably, there were no cars to be leased. Our delegation had decided to rent a car. Again we had the competition of gun violence. We believed that that was the cause or at least one of the causes for all the cars being leased. It was reported that hundreds of thousands were in Washington for the gun rally. We learned later that even the equipment people charged with setting up the sound system were trapped in that huge crowd and the rally had to be delayed. I would like to interject here that we, the organizers of June 12th, saw no dichotomy between gun violence in the streets of America and war abroad, they were connected we felt.
We had scheduled a rally on Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of the White House. Not to be defeated, I spoke to the rally via conference call. I was told that my message was clear and convincing. I made some of the same points that I expressed at NAN. One of the main subjects that were different was the military budget and the threat of nuclear war. While I addressed these issues, as I stated, I put more emphasis on these two issues.
I should point out that the rally in Washington was organized by the Hiroshima Nagasaki committee. I have pointed out in other places that they were exceptionally supportive on the original June 12, 1982. There were racists who sought to exclude us. Primarily the National Black United Front. We organized Third-World People into a Third-World people progressive alliance. I traveled to various cities telling people what happened with the organizers of June 12th. One of the cities I visited was Washington D.C. I met Mr. John Steinbach. He set up meetings with organizations spearheaded by The HN Washington D.C. area committee. After hearing my story they agreed to support us. They brought over 31 buses to the rally in NY on the day of the rally June 12th. I always felt gratitude to John Steinbach for his generous support. We met nine times in our organizing for the Washington, D.C. event. We had 9 weekly zoom sessions.
Herbert Daughtry Global Ministries on the Occasion of the
40th Anniversary Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Committee
Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry Sr.,
Honorable Sirs and Madams,
As Emeritus National Presiding Prelate of the House of the Lord Churches and Chairman of the National Black United Front and at the present Founding President of the Herbert Daughtry Global Ministries, with profound praise, appreciation, and gratitude. I wish to convey our congratulations to the Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Committee (HNPC) on its 40th Anniversary.
For four decades you have not faltered nor failed to fulfill the vision of your founders, Louise Franklin- Ramirez and Josephine Butler: “let us work unceasingly to establish a just peace to oppose militarism, and to completely dismantle all nuclear weapons, that the world's children will be free of the threat of nuclear war and share and enjoy the beneficent and bountiful future.”
Let me say at this point we, The Herbert Daughtry Global Ministries share the vision of your founders. We work, advocate, and pray for a world in which all enjoy freedom, justice, and equality where there is quality education, health services, and meaningful employment for all in a world of sustainable energy, nuclear disarmament, and peace between nations and individuals.
The world is indebted to you for all that you have done and are doing. I tremble to think where we humans would be — if we would be at all— if there had been no Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Committee and likeminded organizations and individuals who have been in the struggle for lo these many years, and have declared they will be in the struggle until the end.
Especially with all the emphasis I can command, on behalf of the Third World Progressive Committee, we owe you and we are deeply indebted to the Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Committee.
In 1981/82 when world leaders were convening in a great global demand for the disarmament of nuclear weapons, there were powerful racists who sought to block the participation of the National Black United Front which I headed at the time. But, because we had secured the permit for the sites that they wished to hold their demonstrations they were forced to deal with us.
We expanded our original group to include all so-called “third world people”. We named the group the Third World Progressive Committee and commenced the hard work of deepening and increasing our coalition. We became an integral part of the Internal Leadership of the Disarmament Committee. We demanded and received ⅓ of all the Disarmament Committee activities. ⅓ of progressive people participated in the program and ⅓ of the budget for promotion and other expenses.
I called John Steinbach and asked him to arrange a meeting for me to speak to the Washington D.C area HNPC. To the eternal credit of John, he effectuated my request.
We journeyed to Washington, D.C. I spoke to the members of the HNPC. I gave them an update on what was happening in the International Disarmament Committee and how we were organizing. The HNPC wholeheartedly endorsed our efforts and became members of a Third World Progressive Committee and helped us in our organizing work.
For the event, on June 12, 1982, they brought three busloads to New York. The event will always be remembered as the greatest peace disarmament rally ever held. Over one million people from across the world came to New York for the nuclear disarmament rallies and demonstrations.
I spoke twice, first in front of the United Nations then we marched to Central Park where we continued the rally. And again I was asked to address the rally.
I WANT TO MAKE A PROPOSAL THAT WE COMMENCE ORGANIZING IMMEDIATELY FOR NEXT YEAR'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREATEST NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT RALLY EVER HELD.
May God bless our efforts and allow us to see the day in the words of the Holy Scriptures of the Christian faith.
“God shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Isaiah 2:4