Peace Action Wisconsin is among dozens of state and local level affiliates of the left-of-center anti-war advocacy organization Peace Action, which was founded during the Cold War in opposition to nuclear proliferation. Peace Action has dozens of affiliates at the state and local level throughout the United States, with among its most active affiliates including Peace Action New York State, Westchester People’s Action Coalition (WESPAC), and Massachusetts Peace Action. Peace Action Wisconsin was founded as “Mobilization for Survival,” which joined a national network of anti-war and environmentalist organizations under the national Peace Action umbrella in 1996. Issues of priority for the group include calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War, calling for drastic cuts to U.S. defense spending, and a ban on nuclear weapons. 1 2 3 4
History
Peace Action Wisconsin was founded in 1977 as Mobilization for Survival, part of a national network of 125 anti-war, social justice, and environmental organizations. The group states that it aligned with the national Peace Action organization in 1996 following the Peace Action organization forming out of the SANE and FREEZE anti-nuclear-weapon campaigns. In 1999, the group became Peace Action Wisconsin. 2
Peace Action Wisconsin is based in Milwaukee and is organized as a 501(c)(4) advocacy and lobbying organization; however, the Peace Action Wisconsin website states that it is a 501(c)(3) community organization and that contributions are tax-deductible, which is not the case with 501(c)(4) groups. The organization likely utilizes the Peace Education Project of Peace Action Milwaukee, an affiliated 501(c)(3) organization, as the group’s charitable arm to solicit tax-deductible contributions. 5 6
The National Peace Action organization was first formed in 1957 as the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy, known as SANE. 7 SANE opposed U.S. military involvement in Vietnam, and in November 1965 organized the “largest antiwar demonstration up to that time.” SANE supported then-U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy’s (D-MN) 1968 presidential campaign, which centered around bringing an end to the Vietnam War. 7 SANE continued its activities throughout the twentieth century and in 1987 became Peace Action, which it merged with the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign, also known as FREEZE, an anti-nuclear testing group that was formed in 1979. SANE and FREEZE also had local and state affiliates prior to the merger, most of which continue to exist as Peace Action local affiliates. 7
Activities
Peace Action Wisconsin hosts the Stand for Peace in Milwaukee demonstrations which meet at various street corners throughout the city. The group also strongly opposes the use of nuclear power, claiming that such installations are unsafe and produce harmful waste. The group criticized the Biden administration and UN Climate Conferences for emphasizing nuclear power. 8
The group has also authored a variety of anti-Israel content calling charges of antisemitism “the new McCarthyism” stating that “In the current case, the corporate media and lobby groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) are seeking to squash debate concerning Israel’s war on Gaza and the US three-billion-dollar-a-year perpetual military aid to Israel. They are claiming that any criticism of Israel’s brutal bombing of Gaza is threatening to Jewish students on campuses and constitutes antisemitism. We must be wary of this move toward a new McCarthyism on campus and in society in general.” The group also stated that it joined “thousands gathered at the state capital to demand that Biden and Wisconsin’s senators and representatives call for an immediate ceasefire to end Israel’s genocidal slaughter in Gaza.” 9
References
- “Peace Action.” Library of Congress Web Archive. Accessed November 10, 2024. https://www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0002416/
- “About.” Peace Action Wisconsin. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://www.peaceactionwi.org/about
- “Issues.” Peace Action Wisconsin. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://www.peaceactionwi.org/issues
- “Who We Are.” Peace Action. Accessed November 10, 2024. https://www.peaceaction.org/who-we-are/
- “Peace Education Project of Peace Action Milwaukee Inc.” ProPublica. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/391484984
- “Peace Action Wisconsin.” ProPublica. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/391654701
- “History.” Peace Action. Accessed November 10, 2024. https://www.peaceaction.org/who-we-are/our-mission/history/
- “About.” Peace Action Wisconsin. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://www.peaceactionwi.org/nukes
- “The Mobilizer Newsletter of Peace Action of Wisconsin January-February 2024. Vol 46 #6.” Peace Action Wisconsin. 2024. https://assets.nationbuilder.com/peaceactionwi/pages/136/attachments/original/1704575525/PeaceAction_PrintLayout_JanFeb24.pdf?1704575525