Washington Against Nuclear Weapons (WANW) started in 2016. Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility recognized that while there were many groups in WA State that worked on peace issues, there was little communication or collaboration between them. We knew that we would be much more powerful working together than alone. We also saw that to make a difference on this issue, we would need to expand beyond our existing networks.

       In October 2016, WANW  held our first meeting to discuss the vision and goals of an anti-nuclear weapons coalition. We decided at this first meeting, and have re-affirmed since, that our work should specifically focus on nuclear weapons, instead of militarism more broadly. We feel that while rampant militarism is a grave concern, nuclear weapons pose a unique and catastrophic humanitarian threat to our planet, and are therefore worth prioritizing. 

       Since then, our coalition has grown to include members in nearly every Congressional district in Washington. Our members are not just peace organizations, but also educators, labor groups, environmentalists, health experts, faith leaders, and more.

We hope you'll join us as we build this local movement to work towards a world without nuclear weapons! 

1.

Influenced members of Congress to take further action through various activities: 

• We have held meetings with every WA member of Congress or their staff in 2017 and 2018.

• In 2017, we held 22 meetings with members of Congress or staff, and have held 24 meetings in 2018 so far (as of Aug 2018).

• We have generated thousands of constituent contacts (calls, emails, postcards) to our members of Congress, urging them to take specific actions against nuclear weapons.

These efforts have contributed to our members of Congress taking important public stances, including: 

• Representative Heck co-sponsoring the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act, H.R. 669

• Senator Cantwell introducing 4 nonproliferation amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act

• Senators Murray and Cantwell speaking out publicly against the President's 2018 Nuclear Posture Review and low-yield nuclear weapons

• Representative Smith speaking out against the Nuclear Posture Review, low yield nuclear weapons, and nuclear weapons spending

2.

Passed resolutions throughout WA state: 

(links to resolutions provided where available) 

1. City of Olympia; Passed August 7th, 2018
   A Resolution in Support of the Elimination of All Nuclear Weapons, and Opposing the First Strike Authority of the President of the United States

2. City of Spokane; Passed July 30th, 2018
   Nuclear-free community, support Ban Treaty, Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance Day

3. Washington State Democrats: Two resolutions passed June 16th, 2018
   Restricting First Use
   Spending

4. Washington State Democrats; Passed September 10th, 2017
   Restrict First Use of Nuclear Weapons and Require Congressional Approval

5. Clallam County Democrats; Passed in October, 2017

6. Jefferson County Democrats; Passed July 25th, 2017
   Restrict First Use of Nuclear Weapons and Require Congressional Approval

7. Pierce County Democrats; Passed December 14th, 2017

8. King County Metropolitan Club; Passed November, 2017
   Resolution Against the New Nuclear Arms Race

9. 37th Legislative District Democrats; Passed October 9th, 2017
   Resolution Against the New Nuclear Arms Race

10. 32nd District
    Resolution Against the New Nuclear Arms Race

11. 27th District Democrats; Passed February 26th, 2018

12. City of Port Townsend, Jefferson County, Jefferson County Board of Health, Passed 2019

13. Skagit County Democrats, No First Use resolution, passed December 2019

14. 40th Legislative District Democrats, No First Use resolution, passed March 2020

3.

4.

Dozens of media pieces published

A few examples: 

• The Fig Tree: Long-time peacemaker advocates for Spokane to be nuclear-free zone, July 2018

• Crosscut: The cause MLK fought for that we tend to forget, April 2018

• The Olympian: Senate action needed to prevent nuclear war, April 2018

• The Daily (University of Washington): A thousand lanterns towards hope, August 2017

• Real Change: To protect our planet, and ourselves, we need to ban the nuclear bomb, August 2017

5.

Held dozens of educational events and presentations across the state, reaching thousands of individuals.

A few examples: 

• Nuclear Weapons, Race, and Justice in the Trump Era, April 2018

• WE CAN: Ban the Bomb, December 2017

• From Hiroshima to Hope, August 2017

• Nuclear Insights: Survivor Stories and Action to Prevent Nuclear War, April 2017

• People’s Town Hall on Nuclear Weapons, September 2019