by Lewis M. Randa
Fellow Conscientious Objectors,
Whether you voiced your opposition to war before draft boards, stood your ground before military tribunals, or declared your conscientious objection to war in the face of societal pressure, your courage and conviction have shaped the moral fabric of our nation. Today, we call upon you once more.
The United States now faces a flagrant display of military might in our nation’s capitol on June 14th, flag day, orchestrated by a commander-in-chief whose leadership echoes the authoritarian parades of Stalin and Hitler, spectacles that have no place in our democratic tradition.
This is not the America we have defended through peaceful resistance. This is the dangerous path President Eisenhower warned us about: the unchecked rise of the military-industrial complex, now exploited by a leader who evaded military service, disrespected true heroes, and has been found by the courts to be morally and criminally culpable.
We must organize and protest-peacefully, powerfully, and publicly.
We urge you to join a National Day of Nonviolent Civil Disobedience:
- Gather at state capitols, federal buildings, and public squares across the country.
- Stage sit-ins, silent vigils, and peaceful blockades during any and all planned military parade.
- Accept the consequences of nonviolent action-summons, court appearances, or arrest-to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to peace and democracy.
- Coordinate with legal support teams to ensure our voices are heard both in the streets and in the courts.
Now is the time to reclaim our legacy of conscientious objection. Let us remind America that real strength lies not in weapons or intimidation, but in the courage to seek justice, question authority, and defend democracy.
Join us. Make your voice heard for peace, for democracy, and for the soul of our nation. Do not sit by and allow the spectacle of a military parade in our nation’s capital to go without your display of resistance.
Please feel free to contact the National Registry for Conscientious Objection to assist in coordinating your action.
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Lewis M. Randa is Executive Director of the National Registry for Conscientious Objection at The Peace Abbey Foundation.
