A somber and reflective vigil outside the State Office Building in Syracuse Monday marked a grim day in history to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the U.S. dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan.
The Syracuse Peace Council and Nuclear Free World Committee got their points across about the destruction and sheer horror nuclear weapons cause. They say the anniversary of August 9th, 1945 is a day for remembering the staggering amount of lives lost when the U.S. bombed Nagasaki, Japan, and to ensure there are never future nuclear war conflicts.
"We gather to reflect on the gruesome destruction of two cities and the ending of hundreds of thousands of lives, mostly civilians, many of whom suffered for years before succumbing to radiation sickness. This is symbolized by the figures of mourning women and the flames of destruction. But more importantly, we gather to call attention to the continued menace that these horrific weapons pose not only to other countries but to our own."
There were further theatrical visuals such as a fire pit with $10,000 being dropped in every four second, the approximate rate at which the U.S. purchases nuclear weapons. The gathering is part of the “Back From The Brink” vigils across the state to call for an end of nuclear weapons in any conflicts. They’re urging local and state politicians to sign a letter to send to Washington lawmakers. Mayor Ben Walsh is calling for local lawmakers to sign it.
"We need not look any further than January 6th of this year to know how precarious our democracy is, and why we should not have our nuclear weapons on a hair trigger that depends only on who is occupying the White House at any given time.”
The Syracuse Peace Council and Nuclear Free World Committee is encouraging residents to reach out to their lawmakers to express they don’t want the U.S. to move forward with replacing its nuclear arsenal. They also seek a verifiable agreement between nuclear-armed states with commitments to eliminating their respective nuclear arsenals. The website can be found here.
