Our History

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Our History

For over forty years Peace Action has successfully organized to end the nuclear threat, to create a more peaceful economy, and to support nonviolent resolutions to international conflicts. Peace Action originated in two accomplished disarmament and antiwar organizations that were founded during the Cold War and merged in 1987.

SANE
The Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE) began in 1957. SANE's founders, inspired by Dr. Albert Schweitzer's "Call to Conscience" which stirred public action about the dangers of nuclear radiation, included Saturday Review editor Norman Cousins, American Friends Service Committee member Clarence Pickett, and poet Lenore Marshall, among others. The committee's mission was to "develop public support for a boldly conceived and executed policy which will lead mankind away from war and toward peace and justice."

SANE grew to be an effective national voice for nuclear disarmament. Spokespeople for SANE include: Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Eleanor Roosevelt, Norman Thomas, Dr. Benjamin Spock, Bertrand Russell, Pablo Casals, Roger Baldwin, Paul Tilich, and Erich Fromm.

From the beginning, SANE linked issues of peace and justice. Supporters like Dr. Martin Luther King, Coretta Scott King, Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee, and Ossie Davis connected SANE with civil and human rights movements across the country. Historically, SANE also forged close alliances with labor organizations such as the International Association of Machinists.

SANE led a number of successful public education projects including hard-hitting advertising campaigns that brought nuclear disarmament issues to millions of Americans. SANE's first major accomplishment was ratification of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. SANE was also an early leader in the movement against the war in Vietnam. In 1978 SANE was at the head of a victory against MX mobile missile deployment, avoiding massive environmental damage in Utah and Nevada.

The Freeze
The Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign, initiated by Randall Forsberg's call to "freeze and reverse the nuclear arms race," was born in the early 1980s. The Freeze was a grassroots-based confederation of groups spanning the country. Freeze leaders included Randall Forsberg, Pam Solo, and Randy Kehler. Elected officials such as Rep. Patricia Schroeder and Sen. Ted Kennedy helped to lead the movement in Congress. The Freeze's grassroots network pushed for nuclear reductions through ballot initiatives in towns and cities across the nation.

Peace Action
In 1987, Sane and the Freeze merged to form SANE/FREEZE. In 1993 the organization changed its name to Peace Action.

Peace Action has become the country's largest grassroots peace network. Peace Action's affiliate and chapter network organizes in local communities throughout the nation to educate the public and activate constituents in order to create more responsible US policies.

Peace Action's efforts are currently focused on building a broad political base for a new US foreign policy. Read more about it by clicking the button below.

In addition, Peace Action has lead successful issue advocacy efforts in congressional districts throughout the nation as part of its Peace Voter Campaign. Peace Action's 85,000 person membership has built victories on issues such as landmine legislation, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, a weapons trade Code of Conduct, and military budget cuts.

Our continued success depends on a strong movement of concerned citizen members who represent key congressional districts throughout the nation. Help us build the movement by joining Peace Action today.

View a timeline of Peace Action events and accomplishments.