Ian Lind posted archival materials from the Hawaii People’s Coalition for Peace and Justice circa 1971. It is both encouraging and depressing to see that the themes and struggles from forty years ago are still relevant to the movement today. One of the archived documents that caught my eye, an open letter to Americans from Micronesians in Hawai’i condemning the U.S. military domination of their islands and calling for solidarity to gain true self-determination, justice and peace. Here’s a short excerpt from the post:
1971: Hawaii People’s Coalition for Peace and Justice
“In March of 1971 over a score of community, peace, student, military, low-income and other groups and individuals formed the Hawaii People’s Coalition for Peace and Justice–reflecting the joining of concerns for an end to the war, racism, exploitation, repression and poverty, and for a society based on human equality and respect for the earth.”
[Source: June 12, 1971 leaflet describing the coalition. Photo: Professor Walter Johnson at the beginning of a coalition-sponsored peace march from Ala Moana Park to city hall, April 1971. Photo by Ian Lind.]