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Saving the World from Nuclear War

The June 12, 1982, Disarmament Rally and Beyond

Vincent J. Intondi

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Examines how the June 12, 1982, rally for nuclear disarmament paved the way for a new generation of activists.

On June 12, 1982, one million people filled the streets of New York City and rallied in Central Park to show support for the United Nations' Second Special Session on Disarmament. They demanded an end to the nuclear arms race and called for a shift from military funds to money allocated for human needs. In Saving the World from Nuclear War, Vincent J. Intondi draws on archival materials and interviews with rally organizers and activists in Central Park to explore this demonstration...

Examines how the June 12, 1982, rally for nuclear disarmament paved the way for a new generation of activists.

On June 12, 1982, one million people filled the streets of New York City and rallied in Central Park to show support for the United Nations' Second Special Session on Disarmament. They demanded an end to the nuclear arms race and called for a shift from military funds to money allocated for human needs. In Saving the World from Nuclear War, Vincent J. Intondi draws on archival materials and interviews with rally organizers and activists in Central Park to explore this demonstration from its inception through the months of organizing, recruiting, and planning, to the historic day itself.

Reviews

Reviews

[Saving the World from Nuclear War] offers a refreshing retelling of the history of nuclear disarmament and a welcome change from the tendency of nuclear weapons scholarship to focus on the actions of the decision-makers....the book is highly accessible, making it an essential read for young activists and veterans of the peace movement alike.

An immersive and vibrant journey from America's largest anti–nuclear warfare protest to the present day. Meticulously researched and carefully crafted, this book unveils a vital yet neglected timeline and provides a fresh understanding of late twentieth-century pacifist activism. An absolute must-read.

Even a glance at the battle for Ukraine tells us that we desperately need a mass movement for a world free of nuclear weapons. We know we can build such an essential struggle because we did it before. This book is a triumph because it excavates what has been an all-too-hidden history of the struggle for our very species. I simply cannot recommend it enough.

Sometimes we need to look back to find the way forward. Intondi has delivered a gripping account of the people and forces that shaped one of the most important and inspiring episodes in the long struggle against the bomb. He also offers valuable insights about how we can address the existential threats posed by nuclear weapons now and in the future.

Intondi has written a book that shows how social movement rallies and campaigns are not just discrete moments in history. They are created by the relentless organizing of those seeking to make change in the world, and their legacies can impact movement building far into the future.

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About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
5.5
x
8.5
Pages
152
ISBN
9781421446400
Illustration Description
9 b&w photos, 1 b&w illus
Table of Contents

Dedication
Abbreviations
Forward
Part I: Setting the Stage
1. Introduction
2. The Movement Awakens
Part II: The Last Dance
3. Planning the Rally
4. June 12, 1982
Part III: Encore
5. The Legacy of June 12th and

Dedication
Abbreviations
Forward
Part I: Setting the Stage
1. Introduction
2. The Movement Awakens
Part II: The Last Dance
3. Planning the Rally
4. June 12, 1982
Part III: Encore
5. The Legacy of June 12th and Beyond
Notes
Bibliography

Author Bio
Vincent J. Intondi
Featured Contributor

Vincent J. Intondi

Vincent J. Intondi is a professor of history and the director of the Institute for Race, Justice, and Civic Engagement at Montgomery College. He is the author of African Americans Against the Bomb: Nuclear Weapons, Colonialism, and the Black Freedom Movement.