On January 22, 2021, the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force!!. Nuclear weapons have always been immoral, but now they are also illegal under international law! 52 nations have ratified the treaty; 85 others have signed and are working toward ratification. More are expected to join. The TPNW prohibits the possession, development, testing, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons for the 52 countries that have so far ratified it, opening a new chapter for nuclear disarmament. (Cambodia is the most recent country to sign.) Regrettably, the TPNW has been rigorously opposed by the United States and other nuclear armed states, as well as those allied states under “nuclear umbrellas.

While celebrating this important milestone, we commit ourselves to working toward the goal of our country joining the treaty, and redirecting the exorbitant funds now allocated toward modernizing nuclear weapons to other urgent needs. We need to push NYC to join the Cities Appeal of ICAN. Lastly, we need to push NYC pension funds to divest from companies producing nuclear weapons. Two important bills (Res. 0976-2019 and Res. 1621-2019) in the NYC City Council call for NYC pension funds to divest from any companies producing nuclear weapons, reaffirm NYC as a nuclear weapons free zone, and call for NYC to join the Cities Appeal of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. A super-majority of council members support these bills: but Speaker Corey Johnson has refused to bring them to a vote.

What can you do?

Contact your Congressional Representative and New York Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to demand that they take action toward the U.S signing the treaty (TPNW).
Call City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (212-788-7210) and demand that he bring Res. 0976-2019 and Res. 1621-2019 to a vote. Also call your own Council Member and ask them to push for getting these bills passed without further delay!

Educate yourself with the resources of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. (ICAN)

Check out this Webinar:  What does the Nuclear Ban Treaty mean for the USA? Dr. Timmon Wallis, Director, NuclearBan.U.S. (the U.S. affiliate of ICAN,) discusses the legal, financial and political implications of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

On Monday Jauary 25, BFP joined countries around to world in a Global Day of Action to Say NO to War on Yemen! But one day of action isn’t enough. As a candidate, Joe Biden promised to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen. We must hold him to his word. While the coalition led by Saudi Arabia is carrying out the airstrikes and blockade that have caused the majority of civilian casualties and crippled Yemen’s economy, the U.S. has maintained unquestioning support for Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. since the war began. A large sale of F-35 warplanes as well as MQ-9B “Reaper” drones to U.A.E. was pushed through on the last day of Trump administration.

Call your representative now and demand an end to weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. Ask them to to cosponsor and vote in favor of H.J.Res.15 and H.J.Res.16 to stop hundreds of millions worth of new weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Congressional switchboard 202-224-3121

While you’re on the phone, also ask them to urge the Biden administration to immediately reverse the designation of the Houthis in Yemen as a foreign terrorist organization (done by the outgoing Secretary of Pompeo.) Such an unwarranted designation will result in a virtual blockade of all food and medicine desperately needed in Yemen..

Get more talking points and a script here.

Thanks to the many supporters who donated generously during December and throughout 2020! Your contributions will strengthen our voice of resistance as we move ahead in 2021. We can’t do it without you!

As a locally based peace and justice organization, we work to counteract the pervasive influence of militarism and hate. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us in myriad ways: it has magnified the pernicious depth of racism, white supremacy, anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant xenophobia in our country.  The outsize military budget drains the resources so needed for our local communities as well as for addressing the looming climate crisis. The military mindset of our government leads to a foreign policy which makes us all less safe by increasing the danger of war and the existential threat of nuclear war.

Although our presence on the street has been curtailed since March 2020 because of COVID-19, we’ve continued our educational events. After our initial forum of 2020 at the Brooklyn Commons, What’s Happening in Bolivia? the pandemic forced us to cancel Wrestling With Zionism. However, our Town Halls  in cyberspace have been very well attended:

**War Economy and COVID-19;
**Mental Health in the Time of COVID-19;
**Israel’s Attack on the USS Liberty;
**Reimagining Community Safety and Policing: Defunding and Demilitarizing the NYPD, Parts I and II,  and
**NYC Schools–A Double Crisis: How do pandemic and policy intensify inequity?

Working with a city-wide coalition to “Move the Money from War to Our Communities,” we have supported City Council Resolution 747-A, which would call for federal resources to be redirected from war preparations to domestic needs.  We participated in the March for Climate Justice Through Racial Justice. A team is developing a campaign making the connection between war and global warming, and demanding that the Green New Deal include reduction in military spending as a major plank. We’ll be sharing the brochure with you soon, and moving forward with this campaign in the new Congress.

By connecting issues, and building collaborations with local organizations, we hope to contribute to the development of a multi-issue movement for fundamental change in our society, toward one which prioritizes human needs. But we can’t do this without your continued membership and financial support. Brooklyn For Peace relies solely on our members and supporters for the resources which enable us to hire a Program Coordinator to strengthen our outreach efforts. If you value the voice of Brooklyn For Peace, please affirm your commitment to achieving peace with racial, social, and economic justice by donating to whatever extent you are able.

Please become a member and make your tax-deductible donation at this link. If you’re already a 2021 member, or if you wish to donate without becoming a member, please consider making an additional donation here.

Brooklyn For Peace is multi-issue, non-sectarian, and non-partisan. Our distinctive contribution is speaking out against war, and against the continuing racial, social, and economic injustices which prevent peace. We collaborate with a range of groups. We link the issues through the lens of a foreign policy which relies on military power to address problems. Our track record since 1984 of educational programs leading to informed action has made our voice a respected one. We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization 11-2963180. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. Our most recent financial report may be obtained from us, or from the New York State Attorney General’s Office Charities Bureau.

Thanks to everybody who performed, and to everybody who came to enjoy this fabulous and uplifting event! This was truly an inclusive event, using the power of art to forge connections and build a culture of democracy, unity, hope, and peace. The goal was to foster creativity and nurture a community where everyone has an opportunity to share their talents with an enthusiastic audience. Performers were of various ages and experience levels with different tastes and styles. The lineup included: Miguel Barrera, Ed Briody, Henry and Jaki Florsheim, Judy Gorman, George and Julia Hotz, Suzy Jivotovski, John Munnelly, Sharleen Leahey, Christine Lewis, and Dave Lippman. We apologize to those we were not able to include at this time.

Three simple phrases help define Brooklyn For Peace – human rights, democratic advancement; and, of course, peace. With these ideas framing our work we have addressed the urgent challenges of preventing war and redirecting resources toward human needs since our inception in 1984. This year has been particularly trying. With the pandemic making physical closeness an impossibility, and with cultural and political tensions rising both nationally and internationally, BFP has worked to navigate the changes that this new landscape presents. Moving into cyberspace has meant rethinking what it means to be together, and the place of the peace movement in these trying times.

The enthusiastic participation of our community in the “Open Mic” strengthens our voice in calling for true democracy and peace, with social, racial, and economic justice.

Please enjoy the performance again and share with your friends.

Learn more about the the artists, and support their work. .

And please continue to donate! Become a 2021 member at bit.ly/BFPmember! If you’re already a member, you can give an additional donation at bit.ly.BFPdonate.

How have pandemic and policy exacerbated the inequity in NYC public schools? What can be done?

On November 12th, Brooklyn For Peace hosted and moderated a discussion panel with 5 experts in public education as panelists. The discussion was framed by the following questions:

1. What inequalities and problems has COVID created for low-income communities of color? To what extent has COVID merely brought pre-existing inequalities to light?
2. What are the 2-3 most important changes you would make in schools to create more equity? Desegregation? Changing curriculum? Smaller classes? Equal access to technology?
3. Where can the funds come from to create a more equal educational system in NYC?

We need to take action! So that NYC can obtain the resources needed to invest in schools, join us in pushing the NYC City Counccil to pass Res 747-A which would call on the federal government to move the money from war to what we really need in our communities!

Thanks to our co-sponsors: CodePink/NYC; Brooklyn Emerge; Domestic
Workers United; Fort Greene Peace; Granny Peace Brigade; Metro NY Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism (Metro NY CCDS); Peace Action New York State (PANYS); Peace Action at St. John’s University; Strategy for Black Lives; United University Professions (UUP); Veterans for Peace–NYC Chapter 34; United Community Centers of East New York (UCC); War Resisters League NYC; and World Can’t Wait

Thanks to everybody who voted, either by mail or in-person!

Now we need to be sure that every vote is counted. “Protect the Results” is a nationwide coalition which is mobilizing with that goal.

Find out more and sign up to receive information about local events.