~ History

Winsted Area PeaceAction was first organized in 1982 to work on the issues of peace and nuclear disarmament. Originally named Winsted Area Nuclear Freeze Committee, the group was successful in winning passage of a Nuclear Freeze Resolution in several towns in the Winsted area. In the years between 1982 and 1995 the group sponsored an annual Peace Fair in Winsted in East End Park with all day live music, speakers, activities for children and crafts and information booths. Also in 1982 the group began to hold vigils for peace every month on the green in East End Park, as well as candlelight vigils to commemorate events such as the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. During these years we held workshops, concerts for peace, sponsored speakers, worked to raise awareness about the negative effect of war toys on young children and lobbied our congressional delegates regarding issues of peace and war. The group had always maintained an affiliation with the national organization, SANE/FREEZE and continued to oppose the U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf area. In 1993, SANE/FREEZE renamed itself Peace Action. Our local organization followed suit and became Winsted Area PeaceAction.

~ Mission:

Winsted Area PeaceAction seeks to work toward building a culture of peace within our community, our schools, our country and our world. We strive to do this through educating others and ourselves about issues of peace and justice. We reach out to others in our community through our newsletters, speakers and literature.

~ Current activities:

• Newsletters and action emails
• Twice-monthly vigils for peace on the first and third Sundays
• Alternatives to the Military tables in local high schools
• Monthly Peace Study Group at the New Hartford Library
• Sponsorship of speakers and films about the costs of war
• The Human Cost of War display that travels to local libraries and schools
• Peace and Justice literature placed in local libraries and schools
• Letter writing to Congress and local newspapers
• Booth and informational literature at local fairs and events
• Monthly business meetings and occasional social potluck dinners