The Monroe Chapter of the Coalition for Peace Action called for greater citizen involvement in abolishing nuclear weapons, establishing a peace economy, and halting weapons trafficking during its second meeting Wednesday.
By: Leon Tovey
MONROE "We need your H-E-L-P," Ellen Norman told the crowd of more than 60 township residents who attended the second meeting of the Monroe Township chapter of the Coalition for Peace Action on Wednesday.
In asking for help, Ms. Norman was referring both to the coalition’s newly formed local chapter and to the organization’s broader goals. The CFPA is a grassroots organization that grew out of a series of interfaith religious services held in Princeton in 1980 for the purpose of expressing opposition to the nuclear arms race.
Today the organization has chapters across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Its mission is to work to abolish nuclear weapons, establish a peace economy and halt weapons trafficking.
Ms. Norman, a Rossmoor resident who co-chairs the local chapter with Concordia resident Betty Kletter, said that what is needed at the local level is involvement from township residents. More than 200 people attended the chapter’s first meeting on April 24, but that event featured Daniel Ellsberg, the former military analyst who caused a national uproar in 1971 when he released the Pentagon Papers.
While attendance at Wednesday’s meeting, which featured a panel discussion on verified voting, was lower, it was still strong, Ms. Norman said. She and other members of the group said they would like to maintain their momentum.
In the larger sense, the CFPA needs citizen involvement to accomplish its long-term goals, because, as coalition Chairwoman Irene Goldman, who took part in Wednesday’s panel, explained, only a majority can effect change in a democracy.
During Wednesday’s meeting, which also featured Michelle Mulder, counsel to U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, and voting-reform activist Beth Feehan, a discussion on verified voting (the creation of a paper trail as a backup to electronic voting machines) segued into a discussion of the larger issue of maintaining democracy.
Ms. Feehan praised those who attended the meeting all of whom were in their 60s or older for their active role in American democracy and exhorted them to continue in that role.
"You have to go to officials at the county and local level and ask question upon question upon question," she said, drawing nods and a few cheers.
The chapter’s next meeting will be held at the Municipal Building at 10 a.m. June 21. The topic has yet to be determined.
Those interested in getting involved can contact Ms. Norman at (609) 655-9113 or Ms. Kletter at (609) 409-9992. More information on the CFPA is available online at www.peaceaction.org.