To the editor:

I was pleased to read the letter from Brennan Tierney in the Aug. 1 issue reporting on the June 6 historic passage of HR 7329 by the RI House of Representatives.

The resolution addresses the very real catastrophic danger of nuclear weapons by “Urging the federal government to pursue a broad range of measures to reduce the danger of nuclear war, to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), to make nuclear disarmament the centerpiece of our national security policy, and to spearhead a global effort to prevent nuclear war.”

The significant role our East Bay Representatives played in the passage of this historic resolution was noted in the press release I sent to the East Bay papers on June 15. On behalf of East Bay Citizens for Peace and the entire Just Peace RI coalition I would like to congratulate and express our boundless appreciation to Lead Sponsor, Representative Susan R. Donovan who did the lion share of the work to get HR 7329 to the floor and to victory.

When asked for her thoughts about the resolution, Rep. Donovan said: “Whatever people feel about ratifying the TPNW, I think most people can agree that we should not be the country that relies on weapons that have no use in war other than destroying civilian targets. Unleashing global famine, climate and habitat destruction and misery would be a catastrophe beyond understanding for everyone on our planet.”

I would also like to thank our Co-sponsors: Representatives Morales, Henries, Stewart, Batista, Cruz, Speakman, McGaw, Potter, and Ackerman for their support.

Just Peace RI, an ad hoc coalition representative of peace, justice, and faith organizations from across the state, includes Pax Christi RI, East Bay Citizens for Peace, No Endless War or Excessive Militarism, Sisters of Mercy Justice Team, Rhode Island Poor People’s Campaign, Rhode Island Anti-war Committee and FCNL – Providence Advocacy Team. Just Peace RI has been trying to get a Resolution passed by the House in recent years. The RI Senate passed an identical Resolution in 2022.

With this historic vote in the RI House of Representatives, Rhode Island joins four other US States (New Jersey, Oregon, California, and Maine) and many US and international cities (including Washington D.C., Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Honolulu, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles) that have passed resolutions in favor of the TPNW. In Rhode Island, East Providence, Little Compton, Bristol, and Jamestown have passed similar resolutions.

As Brennan Tierney makes clear in his letter, the danger of a nuclear disaster — either intentional or by accident — is the gravest immediate threat to our very existence and we should all be proud of our East Bay Representatives and our state for playing a role in addressing this serious threat to our security.

 “These weapons threaten our lives and culture on a daily basis. Now that the RI Legislature has acted, it’s time to see some American leadership at the federal level,” said William Smith III of Jamestown, former Peace Corps volunteer, local businessman, and current Pax Christi RI member.

Nancy Hood
For East Bay Citizens for Peace
274 Wood St.