by Danny Hall, Lead Capitol Hill Representative & Faith Community Outreach Coordinator
Last week in Washington, D.C., a monumental sculpture of one billion stacked one-hundred dollar bills rose before the Capitol, towering in defiance of a political system long addicted to war. At its base, a growing wave of voices—veterans, peacemakers, faith leaders, and grassroots organizers—came together to launch Up in Arms, a bold new campaign demanding that the United States shift its priorities from military domination to human security.
Led by Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, Up in Arms is a four-year initiative focused on confronting the nearly $1 trillion the U.S. spends annually on the Pentagon and exposing the human costs of endless war. Through art, activism, and unapologetic moral clarity, the campaign seeks to mobilize a national movement to defund weapons and reinvest in people—centering the stories of those most impacted by militarism, systemic neglect, and war profiteering. Its goals include cutting bloated military budgets, reversing the nuclear arms race, and forging a new definition of real security rooted in justice, sustainability, and collective care.
The message was clear and urgent: this is not just about the money—we are fighting for the soul of our nation.
For Back from the Brink, this rally was a natural extension of our mission. As a growing national grassroots coalition, we’re mobilizing communities across the country to push the United States to reduce the risk of nuclear war and lead bold global efforts toward a world free of nuclear weapons. Our platform is grounded in pragmatic, lifesaving change: ending sole presidential authority over nuclear weapons, renouncing first use, canceling unnecessary modernization programs, and embracing diplomacy over destruction. These values are codified in House Resolution 317, co-introduced by Representatives Jim McGovern and Jill Tokuda. It’s not just a resolution—it’s a call for the U.S. to reclaim leadership in disarmament and reimagine what real security looks like.
“We can’t bomb our way to safety—we have to lead with values.” – Ben Cohen
Ben Cohen opened the gathering with conviction: “We are up in arms that our government is squandering our wealth and our soul by preparing to kill millions of people… while shortchanging our citizens on what we need to live a good life for ourselves and our kids.” That theme of moral outrage—grounded in deep love for community and country—flowed through every story that followed.
“Nuclear weapons don’t protect us—they endanger everything we hold dear.” – Dr. Emma Belcher
Dr. Emma Belcher of Ploughshares reminded us that nuclear weapons are not dusty relics of the Cold War—they’re active threats growing more dangerous in the shadows. “We are entering a dangerous new era,” she warned, “more players, more uncertainty, and fewer constraints.” Her voice underscored the connection between this fight and every other justice issue—from democracy and climate to global health and economic equity.
“The clock is ticking, and the silence is deafening. I won’t sit quietly.” – Maj. Gen. Dennis Laich
The human stakes came into sharp focus when Maj. Gen. Dennis Laich (U.S. Army, Ret.) stepped forward, sharing the health challenges he faces and the moral clarity that compels him to speak out. “I have Parkinson’s. I have leukemia. I had a heart attack in January,” he said without flinching. “I don’t know how much time I have left on this Earth… but I’m spending it raising hell about this.”
“You can’t call it peace if it’s backed by 800 military bases.” – Col. Lawrence Wilkerson
That urgency deepened with Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to Gen. Colin Powell, who offered a sobering map of American militarism. “These bases don’t preserve peace. They generate war.” With more than 800 U.S. military installations dotting the globe—each commanded by generals with unchecked power—he called out a system that fans conflict while draining our shared resources.
“If we wanted to keep people safe, we’d be building hospitals, not warheads.” – Col. Ann Wright
Few challenged that system more fiercely than Col. Ann Wright, who resigned from the State Department in protest of the Iraq War. “We are the only country that has used nuclear weapons,” she reminded us. “Over 400,000 people were killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Eighty years later, we’re still stockpiling bombs.” Her closing call rang out: “We’re up in arms, and down on these damn nuclear weapons.”
“This isn’t defense. It’s extraction from taxpayers under the guise of patriotism.” – Dan Grazier
Veterans exposed the financial rot at the core of the war machine. Dan Grazier, Marine Corps vet and defense policy expert, walked the audience through the Sentinel ICBM program—originally estimated at $96 billion, now ballooning because of design flaws that force new silo construction. “That’s not incompetence,” he said. “It’s a business model. And we’re the ones paying the bill.”
“They sell us fear, and they cash out in contracts.” —Greg Stoker
Others brought the fight closer to home. Greg Stoker, a former Army Ranger, gave voice to a deeper betrayal: that the technologies used to suppress people abroad are now monitoring Americans here. “There is no daylight between the war state abroad and the war state at home,” he warned. “It’s not a left-right issue. It’s an up-versus-down issue. And you’re next.”
“Truth is our weapon. Solidarity is our shield.” – Mohammed Daoud
When Mohammed Daoud, a Palestinian-American and U.S. Marine veteran, took the mic, the emotional stakes soared. “I didn’t wear that uniform to defend lobbyists and weapons dealers. I wore it to protect the innocent.” Speaking of his work with Palestine Shield, Daoud demanded a radical shift: from funding apartheid to investing in peace. “Not with a rifle, but with the truth,” he said, “we carry that mission forward.”
“We’re not powerless. We are the moral majority—they just haven’t heard us yet.” – Joyce Ajlouny
A voice of faith closed the circle with grounded, moral clarity. Joyce Ajlouny, General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and herself a proud Palestinian-American, reminded the crowd, “We are up in arms—not with weapons, but with moral outrage.” Speaking of AFSC’s work in Gaza, New Mexico, and across communities impacted by nuclear policy, she asked, “What kind of country do we want to be? One that builds bombs—or one that builds schools, homes, and hope?”
Back from the Brink is proud to stand with this movement because our visions are united: a world not built on domination, but dignity. A country not defined by fear, but by care. H. Res. 317 offers Congress the tools—and Back from the Brink brings the people. Up in Arms amplifies that voice with art, outrage, and unapologetic clarity. Together, we’re challenging not just policy, but the very priorities that shape our future.
Because silence is complicity—and we are up in arms.
Take Action
The time to lead is now. Here’s how you and your organization can help move H. Res. 317 forward:
- 👉 Urge Your Member of Congress to Co-Sponsor H.Res. 317 using this customizable action alert
- 🎥 Watch Rep. Delia Ramirez’s H. Res. 317 Endorsement Video and share it to amplify congressional momentum
- 🖊️ Sign Your Organization onto the H. Res. 317 Letter to Congress
Want to learn more about the movements driving this work?
- 🔗 Up in Arms — A movement to reclaim the American Dream and bring common sense to the Department of Defense
- 🔗 Back from the Brink — Bringing communities together to abolish nuclear weapons
Together, we’re not just rejecting nuclear violence—we’re building the future beyond it.
