About CFWP

The next meeting of the Coalition For World Peace is Sunday, May 18, at 3:00 PM.

We will meet at the Korean Resource Center, Los Angeles (KRCLA), 900 S. Crenshaw Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90019 (SE corner, 1 block north of Olympic Blvd). Contact for more information: staff --at-- coalitionforworldpeace.org

• World peace--no u.s. war drive
• No u.s. military interventions
• No more innocent victims
• Stand up for the civil rights of all
• Racism is un-American
• Billions for victims' needs and social services--not war
• Our civil liberties and democratic rights must not be sacrificed to war and terrorism

• ActionLA
  
• Alliance for Democracy
• AIM Southern California Chapter (American Indian Movement)
• Coalition Against Militarism In Our Schools
• CodePINK
• Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence
• CISPES
• Committees of Correspondence for Democracy & Socialism
• Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace
• Labor Against the War - LA
• Neighbors for Peace & Justice
• Office of the Americas
• Out Against the War
• Physicians For Peace
• Political Poster Collective
• Topanga Peace Alliance
• Whittier Area Peace & Justice Coalition
• Women In Black-LA
• Young Koreans United - L.A.

We are also proud to be a member organization of
United for Peace and Justice.

Amid the growing cries for indiscriminate vengeance against entire races and nations, a number of Los Angeles activists met to re-focus their messages and actions for this changed political reality. By September 12, the new coalition's member organizations included the Office of the Americas, the Committee In Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, the Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence, and the Fellowship of Reconciliation.

Plans were immediately made for outreach to the grieving community. A silent candlelight vigil was scheduled for dusk on Sunday, September 16, in the beautiful natural setting of L.A.'s Griffith Park. Los Angeles is a hard place to draw out a crowd, and everyone involved was amazed when over 250 people came to this event. An open microphone was provided for anyone with thoughts to share. In a dramatic moment soon to be repeated at many subsequent local demonstrations, an indigenous Native American dance group performed its moving blessing of our mother Earth.

Another vigil was held four days later in Pershing Square downtown, and this time 350 came. In a pattern which persists to this day, far more passing motorists honked in support than yelled or gestured in derision. Two days after this, the Coalition was able to draw 400 to the first of what would be many spirited anti-war protests at the Westwood Federal Building 10 miles to the west.

CFWP was conceived not as an umbrella organization, but instead as a working group seeking unity with as many organizations as possible. From the start, strategies and tactics used in protests, outreaches, demonstrations, and vigils were designed to reach the largest possible portion of the American public, restoring the half of the debate missing from mainstream media, and reflecting a conscious attempt to avoid "preaching to the choir."

It was agreed from the very beginning that a major priority should be the design of compelling and beautiful symbols. The color green was quickly adopted. An early action was to wear green ribbons, and to display window candles with signs showing the traditional and non-denominational World Peace Prayer - "May Peace Prevail On Earth." Thus was born our first graphic logo (above), when the name of the organization was substituted, and a stylized planet was added so that the candle we all sought to light together could illuminate the world.

At about the same time, talented L.A. artists and CFWP members Peter Dudar and Sally Marr created their own World Peace Flag, which completely redefined the sixties icon of a US flag with the CND "peace symbol." This new, and strikingly appropriate, design unites the world in peace beneath our beautiful sun, with 13 brightly colored stripes standing for brotherhood, compassion, love for our planet with all of its creatures - and chocolate!

CFWP opposed indiscriminate violence against civilians in Afghanistan, and backed various forms of protest and educational outreach to the concerned or undecided in the community. Our voices joined those of the world's people of conscience in agreement that "War is not the answer." In order to help fight the steadily building momentum toward a war on Iraq, CFWP became a major player in L.A.'s monumental "Coalition of Coalitions." Along with Not In Our Name, A.N.S.W.E.R., the Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, and several later members, we helped create the strongest peace movement in the history of Los Angeles.