This summer marks 80 years since the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and across the nation, Back from the Brink Hubs are organizing powerful community events to honor the victims, hear from hibakusha, and renew the urgent call for a nuclear weapons‑free world. From teach‑ins and film screenings to panel discussions and vigils, these gatherings invite the public to reflect on the legacy of these bombings and to engage in meaningful action toward nuclear abolition.
Events are listed alphabetically by state. Currently, there are events planned in:
- Davis, CA
- Ojai, CA
- Hartford, CT
- New Haven, CT (2 events)
- West Hartford, CT
- Washington, DC
- Stone Mountain, GA
- Evanston, IL
- Boston, MA
- Easthampton, MA
- Baltimore, MD
- Portland, ME
- Kansas City, MO
- Clifton, NJ
- Los Alamos, NM
- Santa Fe, NM
- Syracuse, NY
- Ashland, OR (2 events)
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
To find more commemorative events, head over to Physician for Social Responsibility’s Calendar >
BftB Hub Leaders can fill out this form for the national team to create an event registration page on Mobilize and to be added to the events list below.
Davis, CA
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance Day Event
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 11:45am – 1pm PDT
Location: Lamppost Pizza, 1260 Lake Blvd 113, Davis, CA 95616
This public event includes a luncheon program to be presented by the Davis Committee Against Nuclear Weapons and will remember the victims of past nuclear bombings and examine their meaning for us today. The program will include a keynote address by Naomi Egel, Assistant Professor in the Department of International Affairs at the University of Georgia, on the topic “Legacies of Nuclear Weapons Today.” The Committee will also recognize elected officials at all levels of government in Yolo County who have taken steps to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons. The public is welcome to attend and lunch will be provided. (A $10 donation is requested for lunch.)
Ojai, CA
Cranes for Peace
Date: Wednesday, August 6 – Saturday, August 9, 4 – 5:30pm PDT
Location: Libbey Park, 210 S Signal St, Ojai, CA 93023
Help fold 1,000 paper cranes to fulfill our wish for peace. They will begin on the 80th anniversary of the U.S. nuclear attack on Hiroshima and end on the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki. All ages welcome! Origami paper provided.
Hartford, CT
Hiroshima-Nagasaki Vigil and Shared Call for Nuclear Weapon Abolition
Date: Wednesday, August 6 from 11:30am – 1:30pm EDT
Location: Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103
Join Back from the Brink CT for a powerful vigil in remembrance of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. This event will serve as a call to action, raising awareness about the ongoing threat of nuclear weapons and the urgent need for nuclear disarmament. They will focus on educating the public about H. Res. 317, a critical resolution that aims to bring the U.S. closer to a path of abolition.
New Haven, CT
80th Commemoration Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bombings Vigil
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 8 – 10am EDT
Location: New Haven Green, 250 Temple St, New Haven, CT 06511
The commemoration will begin with a silent vigil and then with readings of Peace Declarations from the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Community organizations will speak on nuclear weapons and their intended use for mass destruction. There will be poetry and music and a display of photographs of atomic bombings. Support is encouraged for H. Res. 317 calling for U.S. leadership on nuclear weapons policies that promote global security. Congresspersons Rosa DeLauro and John Larson are co-sponsors.
New Haven, CT
80th Commemoration Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bombings Vigil
Date: Saturday, August 9, 10:45am – 12:30pm EDT
Location: 165 Church St, New Haven, CT 06510
The commemoration will begin with a silent vigil and then with readings of Peace Declarations from the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Community organizations will speak on nuclear weapons and their intended use for mass destruction. There will be poetry and music and a display of photographs of atomic bombings. Support is encouraged for H. Res. 317 calling for U.S. leadership on nuclear weapons policies that promote global security. Congresspersons Rosa DeLauro and John Larson are co-sponsors.
West Hartford, CT
Hiroshima-Nagasaki Remembrance and Shared Call for Nuclear Weapon Abolition
Date: Saturday, August 9, 6 – 9pm EDT
Location: Hartford Meeting, Religious Society of Friends, 144 Quaker Ln S, West Hartford, CT 06119
The event will begin with a potluck at 6pm, followed by a program featuring powerful speakers, live music, and poetry at 7pm. They will close the evening by constructing a large, candle-lit peace sign, symbolizing our collective commitment to a nuclear-free future. Throughout the event, participants will be invited to handwrite letters to their congressional delegation, advocating for support of H. Res. 317 and its companion legislation in the Senate, or thanking Reps. DeLauro & Larson for their leadership in cosponsoring. Origami crane kits will also be available, symbolizing peace and hope.
Washington, DC
DC Nuclear Prayer Day Vigil: 80th Anniversaries of Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 6 – 7:30pm EDT
Location: United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
Join us on August 6 in Washington, DC to mark Nuclear Prayer Day, a global prayerful commemoration of these anniversaries. A world united in moments of silence, in words spoken from the heart, and in a sure vision of a world beyond nuclear weapons – such moments will anchor and sustain our commitment as we work together to bring an end to the nuclear threat. This event will feature prayers for a world free of nuclear weapons, reflections from faith leaders and the nuclear disarmament community, music, and calls to action to support legislative measures and educational efforts to build a movement to halt and reverse the nuclear arms race.
Back from the Brink is one of the co-organizers of the DC Nuclear Prayer Day Vigil. Nuclear Prayer Day is organized by Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons (a part of the United Religions Initiative).
Stone Mountain, GA
Paper Cranes & Pencils: Back to School Drive
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 8am – 4pm EDT
Location: Wade Walker Park, 5585 Rockbridge Rd SW, Stone Mountain, GA 30088
The Back from the Brink Atlanta Hub, Students for Nuclear Disarmament, and PEAC Institute are hosting a Back-to-School Drive in honor of Hiroshima Day, to provide local students, particularly those from under-served communities – with the tools they need to start the school year with confidence and dignity. This event bridges remembrance with action, reminding us that investing in the future of our children is one of the most peaceful and powerful things we can do.
They are currently seeking donations in the form of:
- Physical supplies including: Backpacks, Notebooks, Looseleaf papers, Folders, Pens & Pencils, Crayons & Markers, Calculators, Hygiene Kits, or any other school supplies not listed
- Monetary donations
- Sponsorships (e.g. sponsoring 10 bookbags for $75)
Evanston, IL
Nuclear Roulette – 80 Years on the Brink
Date: Saturday, August 9, 11am CDT
Location: Fountain Square, 1601 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
Join Chicago Peace Action for a commemoration of the more than 200,000 souls killed in the US nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the horrific two, first and only uses (thus far) of nuclear weapons in armed conflict and assume the daunting task of charting a path to complete disarmament.
Boston, MA
Boston Hiroshima & Nagasaki 80th Commemoration
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 12 – 8pm EDT
Location: 583 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210
The event will feature videos and live speeches from Hibakusha (nuclear weapons witness/survivors), scientists and leading nuclear disarmament movement leaders from around the world, film and photographic showings and displays, and in the Japanese tradition memorial lantern floats. Beyond the educational work that will be central to the commemorative events, organizers will be urging people to support the Back from the Brink campaign, H. Res. 317, as well as the Responsible Investment bill (S.767/H.1264), which would divest Massachusetts pension funds from WMD producers and those who finance them.
Easthampton, MA
80th Commemoration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 4:30 – 8pm EDT
Location: 550 Payson Ave, Easthampton, MA 01027
August 6 and 9, 2025 mark the 80th year since the U.S.’s atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, immediately killing between 129,000 and 226,000 people, with many thousands dying later from radiation exposure. We remember their suffering, and call on the nuclear weapons states to take weapons off hair-trigger alert, and negotiate a rapid phasing out of weapons of mass destruction.
Baltimore, MD
80 Years Later: The Atomic Bomb, Maryland and Nuclear Abolition
Date: Sunday, August 10 from 1-3pm EDT
Location: Parkway Theatre, 5 W North Ave, Baltimore MD
A teach-in featuring a medley of short films. Panelists will also discuss whether these weapons can be eliminated, and learn what role we the people, the media and elected officials can play. Free and open to the public; registration required.
Portland, ME
Remembrance and Reflection: 80th Anniversary of the Hiroshima & Nagasaki Bombings
Date: Wednesday, August 6 from 7-9pm EDT
Location: Portland Friends Meeting (Quakers), 1837 Forest Ave, Portland, ME
This commemorative gathering will honor the victims and survivors of nuclear warfare, reflect on the global impact of nuclear weapons, and amplify the call for nuclear disarmament. The evening will feature an exclusive screening of “Silent Fallout,” followed by an open discussion.
Kansas City, MO
Hiroshima/Nagasaki Remembrance
Date: Saturday, August 9 from 2-4:30pm CDT
Location: Kansas City Public Library: Lucile H. Bluford Branch, 3050 Prospect Ave, Kansas City, MO
Join Peaceworks KC, Physicians for Social Responsibility KC and the Party for Socialism and Liberation KC for a teach-in and discussion about the history of US nuclear warfare, the arms chase, and how we can stop this momentum in its tracks and secure a more peaceful future for generations to come – and special guest: Shiho Burke, daughter of Hiroshima survivors.
Clifton, NJ
Memorial & Protest – Stop the War Machine
Date: Tuesday, August 5, 1 – 4pm EDT
Location: 77 River Rd, Clifton, NJ 07014
Join New Jersey Peace Action on the 80th anniversary of the week of bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and during the continuing assault on Gaza. They are gathering to commemorate the anniversary and protest the development of nuclear and conventional war components at the L3 Harris company facility in Clifton, NJ. This is a non-violent action and people are encouraged to bring signs and banners calling for the company to cease making components for nuclear weapons and for the Israeli military. Afterwards, there will be a vigil and speakers.
Los Alamos, NM
Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Bombing of Nagasaki
Date: Saturday, August 9, 10am – 3pm MDT
Location: Manhattan Project National Historical Park, 475 20th St, Los Alamos, NM 87544
10 am: Vigil and protest in the Manhattan Project National Historic Park. Speakers, prayers, and song.
11 am: March to the SALA Event Center, located at 2551 Central Avenue
11:30 am: Viewing of the films “Nagasaki Journey” and “Dark Circle” at the SALA Theatre. Filmmakers will be present for Q&A. NOTE: Seating is limited. Go to (https://sala.losalamos.com/tickets) to reserve a seat. Scroll down to “August 9, NM Peace Festival”. Cost is $5.00.
This event is sponsored by NM PeaceFest, Veterans for Peace, NukeWatch NM, Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Taos Environmental Film Festival, and the Back from the Brink New Mexico Hub.
Santa Fe, NM
Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Hiroshima Bombing
Date: Wednesday, August 6 at 5:30pm MDT
Location: 1420 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Commemoration of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. Introductory remarks by Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester (by video from Japan). Video by Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream for his Up in Arms campaign to reduce military and nuclear weapons spending. Remarks by International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (winners of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize), Nuclear Watch New Mexico, the Back from the Brink New Mexico Hub, and the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. Q&A for media will follow, and then the public. The event will also be livestreamed if you can’t attend in person. Please visit (https://tinyurl.com/3pffy9p9)
Syracuse, NY
Remembering Hiroshima/Nagasaki Bombings. 80 Years Later. NEVER AGAIN!
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 4:30 – 7pm EDT
Location: 201 E Washington St, Syracuse, NY 13202
The procession, sponsored by Syracuse Peace Council, CNY Now, Syracuse Cultural Workers and CNY Solidarity, commemorates the solemn and world-changing event of the first use of nuclear weapons in war on August 6, 1945. The exhibit, “Horror To Hope: Stepping Back from the Brink” features a selection from “The A-Bomb and Humanity,” a set of 40 exhibition panels created by the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo). Comprising of photographs, drawings, and first-hand accounts of survivors from the atomic bombings, creators of this collection hope to “arouse world public opinion for the elimination of nuclear weapons.”
Ashland, OR
80 Years Since Hiroshima & Nagasaki: Remembering…So We Won’t Repeat
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 8 – 9pm PDT
Location: Lithia Park, Winburn Way, Ashland, OR 97520
Ceremony of remembrance for all victims of survivors of nuclear weapons. Music, lighting of memorial flame, sounding of gong at 8:15 with silence, readings, reflections, city proclamation, ending in water ceremony to soothe the souls of the suffering. Opportunities for connection, education and action.
Ashland, OR
Remembering Nagasaki & Film Showing of “On Paper Wings”
Date: Saturday, August 9, 4 – 6pm PDT
Location: First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, 1615 Clark Ave, Ashland, OR 97520
Remembering Nagasaki with lighting of memorial candle and silence; followed by showing of “On Paper Wings”, a moving film of reconciliation among ordinary citizens of formerly warring nations, by Ilana Sol.
This film tells the story of 4 Japanese women who folded balloon bombs as schoolchildren, the families of those killed in Oregon, and the man whose actions brought them all together forty years after WWII. Sharing of responses and refreshments afterwards.
Philadelphia, PA
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki: 80 years later
Date: Sunday, August 10, 11am – 12:30pm EDT
Location: Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Join the United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia for an engaging program to commemorate the horrors of the only time nuclear weapons were used against human beings – and for insights into the ongoing nuclear threat. Learn from peace workers, hear voices from the global community, and find out how you can join the movement to eliminate nuclear weapons. Networking and tabling to follow, with refreshments provided.
Austin, TX
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki: 80 Years of Reflection and Action
Date:Sunday, August 10 from 3 – 4:30pm CDT
Location: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 11201 Parkfield Dr, Austin, TX 78758
Join Texans Ending Nuclear Dangers (TEND) for a community gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Together, we will honor the lives lost, uplift the voices of survivors, and renew our collective commitments to peace, justice, and nuclear disarmament. We will also share opportunities to engage in local, national, and international campaigns for a future free from nuclear weapons.
