On October 16th, Arcata, CA became the 37th city nationally, and the 6th in California to endorse the Back from the Brink policy platform, thanks to a strong coalition of local activists that included Against the Wind, Veterans for Peace, the Golden Rule Project, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and the Quakers.
Building off the success of this coalition with the Eureka, CA resolution that was passed unanimously in April, the leadership of Against the Wind met with Arcata City Councilmember Paul Petino and Mayor Brett Watson do discuss a resolution in Arcata.
The resolution specifically mentioned Arcata’s history of nuclear weapons opposition, noting that “for 37 years Arcata has hosted the Lantern Floating ceremony to memorialize lives lost in the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, affirming Arcata’s dedication to the cause of peace.”
Additionally, the resolution mentioned the cost to local taxpayers, stating that in 2017, “the people of the City of Arcata spent a cumulative $3,579,645.96 on nuclear weapons programs,” citing Physicians for Social Responsibility-LA’s nuclear cost calculator.
The resolution was placed on the City Council’s consent agenda and was passed unanimously on Oct. 16th, 2019.
A copy of the resolution can be found here.
