Recent Activities - dascher Coalition for Peace Action

August 5 - Princeton, NJ

Over 60 attended CFPA's 46th annual observance of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, presented in partnership with Princeton Public Library, which hosted the event in its Community Room.

Dr. Alan Robock, Distinguished Professor at Rutgers University, and a leading expert on the climatic consequences of nuclear conflict, gave the keynote presentation. He has co-led studies on the existential danger presented by a nuclear winter that could be triggered by the use of even a small fraction of the over 12,000 nuclear weapons in the world. Dr. Robock is co-author, with Dr. Brian Toon, of Earth in Flames: How an Asteroid Killed the Dinosaurs and How We Can Avoid a Similar Fate From Nuclear Winter, published in 2025. A 15-minute Q&A session followed.

PrincetonAudienceShot
CFPA's Peace Education Committee Chair and emcee, Evan Miller, a current Princeton University graduate student, opens the Commemoration with a performance by The Solidarity Singers. (photo by Jennifer New, CFPA)

About 75 attended CFPA's 43rd Annual Member Gathering on Sunday, June 14 at Christ Congregation on Walnut Lane. The Program was keynoted by William Hartung, Senior Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, where he focuses on the arms industry and the US military budget, and author of The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home. Additionally, Laura Zurfluh, the leader of Indivisible Cranbury, was honored as an integral collaborator with CFPA on anti-war rallies, No Kings and other pro-democracy demonstrations. Lisa Winkler, a volunteer with the New Jersey chapter of Moms Demand Action, was honored for her work as an active member of CFPA’s Ceasefire NJ gun violence prevention project. A Q&A period followed Mr. Hartung's talk.

BillH Resized Keynote speaker, William Hartung, speaks from his deep knowledge of military spending.

CFPA co-sponsored a Rally on May 16, with Indivisible Cranbury, Indivisible Trenton Makes, and NJ 50501 as part of the National Day for Voting Rights: All Roads Lead to the South protest across the nation, with the main rally in Montgomery, AL. The Rally drew 50-60 participants at the War Memorial across from the NJ State House in Trenton.

Bob May16VotingRightsRally Resized The Rev. Robert Moore, CFPA Executive Director

CFPA's 2026 Membership Renewal & New Member Welcome Gathering was held on April 12 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Princeton. After a well-attended Members Only complimentary lunch, about 60 attended the Program keynoted by lifelong peace scholar Dr. David Cortright who spoke on Halting and Reversing the Arms Race: Challenges and Opportunities. Q&A followed the presentation.

Dr. Cortright presenting to a full Fahs Auditorium.

An estimated 1,250 turned out at the Trenton State House on a blustery Saturday to participate in one of over 3,100 No Kings 3 events held nationally, and over 60 throughout New Jersey. Co-sponsors included CFPA, NJ 50501, Indivisible Cranbury, Greater Trenton Democratic Socialists of America, Trenton Makes Indivisible, and WADEIN NJ.

No Kings 67 REsized
A view from the State House steps (photo by Andrea Kane).

On March 17, CFPA sponsored a webinar introducing the concept of nonviolence. It was presented by Samuel Chawla-Rios, Certified Nonviolence Trainer, and there was a Q&A period following the presentation. Click the image below to watch a recording of the webinar on CFPA's YouTube Channel.

On a sunny, spring-like Saturday afternoon, an estimated 500 attended the rally on Hinds Plaza in Princeton either in-person or via YouTube Live. A recording of the 57 min. YouTube live stream, is available to watch here.

CFPA Executive Director, Rev. Robert Moore leads off the Rally speeches on Hinds Plaza in Princeton. Photo by Andrea Kane.

A total of about 40 protesters participated, including at least four from CFPA, in a student-led rally to support the NJ Climate Superfund Act.

Some of the 40 who rallied outside Nassau Hall for the passing of the NJ Climate Superfund Act, including CFPA Executive Director, Rev. Robert Moore (at far right).

Over 400 attended in-person or watched via livestream the 2026 Multifaith Service honoring the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which was held on January 19th at Princeton United Mehodist Church The Rev. Maureen Gerald was preacher, and a wide range of faith leaders co-led the Service. The MLK Celebration Mass Choir performed a selection of inspirational music throughout the Service. Click below to view the livestream recording. The event was co-sponsored by Coalition for Peace Action and Princeton Clergy Association.

Over 200 filled Hinds Plaza in Princeton for the rally on the evening of Wednesday, January 7, and over 850 at the time of this posting have viewed the recording of the YouTube live stream, for a total of over 1,000 total attendees. The rally was co-sponsored by Indivisible Cranbury.

A diverse crowd of ralliers took to Hinds Plaza in Princeton. Photo by Andrea Kane.

On December 18, 2025, CFPA held its annual Holiday Peace Gathering, a three-part event in Princeton featuring a Peace Vigil on Palmer Square, and a Potluck meal and Program, both in the Assembly Room of Nassau Presbyterian Church. More than 200 attended the events, either in-person or -- for the Program portion -- via livestream.

The theme for the Peace Vigil was "No New Nuclear Arms Race" and "No War with Venezuela". Posters and battery-operated candles were provided for attendees attending this silent vigil.

Vigil attendees on Palmer Square.

On November 16, 2025, over 200 attended Coalition for Peace Action's 46th Annual Multifaith Service for Peace, in-person or via livestream, and 85 attended the afternoon Conference for Peace in-person, in Princeton, NJ.

Group Shot

From left to right, Multifaith Service Preacher and Conference Presenter, The Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, contributing editor to Sojourners; Conference Presenter, Dr. Joseph Gerson, President of the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security (CPDCS); Conference Keynote Speaker, Alexandra Bell, President & CEO of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists; CFPA Board Chair Jeffrey Laurenti; CFPA Executive Director The Rev. Robert Moore.

An estimated 5,000 attendees packed Princeton's Monument Park for the "No Kings Day II" Rally.

Photo courtesy of Phil McAuliffe

About 85 attended CFPA's 42nd Annual Membership Gathering on Sunday, October 12 at Christ Congregation on Walnut Lane. Nuclear arms control specialist Joseph Cirincione was the keynote speaker and three local longtime CFPA stalwarts were recognized at the event, Kathleen “Kip” Cherry, co-chair of the organization’s advocacy committee; Marc Tolo, board vice chair; and David Kelly Crow, volunteer photographer and videographer, who also has provided all of the photos below capturing the event.

The event drew a packed house.

The Coalition for Peace Action joined forces with the United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia to co-host an engaging program to commemorate the horrors of the only time nuclear weapons have been used against human beings at the Philadelphia Ethical Society on Sunday, August 10, 2025.

IMG 3679 Resized

The Princeton Public Library's Community Room was packed to capacity for a co-sponsored event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively. We were fortunate to hear from many prominent voices of remembrance - along with messages that the danger of nuclear conflict remains very real even eight decades after the world witnessed the horrors of nuclear war.

IMG 2648 Resized

On Sunday afternoon, June 29, the Coalition for Peace Action hosted an insightful free webinar featuring Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian.

Amb Mousvian has been a close ally of CFPA over the past 15 years, especially during our successful advocacy in support of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear agreement, which verifiably kept Iran at least a year away from having enough nuclear weapons-grade material to make even one warhead. He is a former spokesperson for Iran in nuclear negotiations.

Missed the webinar? Click here for the replay.

Mousavian

No Kings Day, June 14, 2025

The town of Princeton was packed with an estimated 3,000-5,000 protestors on Saturday, June 14 – just one of thousands of nationwide protests to mark “No Kings Day.”

“What an appropriate place to have a No Kings rally,” said CFPA Executive Director Rev. Robert Moore, noting the event took place directly under a massive statue commemorating the 1777 Battle of Princeton. “George Washington fought to prevent America from being ruled by kings.”

The event was sponsored by the Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA), Indivisible Princeton, and the Princeton Community Democratic Organization.

No Kings 02 shrunk to 1k pixels

The Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA) teamed up with Indivisible Cranbury, Indivisible Princeton, and the Princeton Community Democratic Organization to host a Princeton-based May Day National Day of Action rally at Hinds Plaza on Sunday, May 4. The event coincided with more than 1,500 gatherings across the country from May 1 to 4 to protest the policies and actions of the Trump Administration.

The Coalition for Peace Action marked the 55^th Earth Day on April 22 with a webinar featuring CFPA Executive Director Rev. Robert Moore; the Rev. Vernon K. Walker, Director of Content and External Strategy for the Progress and Poverty Institute in Princeton; Representative Chris Rabb, representing the 200th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; and, Christiaan Morssink, Ph.D., M.P.H., Interim President of the United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia.

EarthDay2025Panelists

CFPA held it's 2025 Membership Renewal Gathering and New Members Welcome on April 6 at Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Princeton. About 50 attended the event keynoted by Ira Helfand, MD who spoke on The Myth of Nuclear Deterrence. Click below to watch a recording of the event, and see photos on our Facebook page here. Special thanks to David Crow for providing his photography and audiovisual expertise at the event.

An estimated 2,000 people turned out on Hinds Plaza on April 5, 2025 as part of the nation-wide Hands Off! Day of Protest. The event was co-sponsored by Coalition for Peace Action and organizers, Indivisible Cranbury and Indivisible Princeton. CFPA's Executive Director, The Rev. Robert Moore led off the line-up of speakers with an impassioned speech to the enthusiastic crowd, who came prepared with homemade signs and banners.

About 500 peaceful protesters showed up for Tesla Takedown III at Tesla’s Lawrence dealership on Saturday, March 22. Coalition for Peace Action's Executive Director, Rev. Robert Moore, addressed the crowd, speaking on how Elon Musk and DOGE's illegal actions threaten to tear apart the framework of American Democracy and lead to a Constitutional Crisis. March 22 Tesla Takedown 115 Laura Zurfluh, of Indivisible Cranbury, welcomes the Rally protesters.

Please click here or on the image below to watch a recording of the 2025 Sacred Heart Gathering for Peace and Justice webinar, Nuclear Arms "Modernization". How Can People of Good Will Respond?, presented by Sacred Heart Peace Community, Camden, NJ and CFPA on February 15, 2025.

About 55 attended the program. The presenters were Sébastien Philippe, PhD, Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University, Vicki Elson, MA, CCE, CD, Warheads to Windmills Coalition, and Seth Shelden, JD, General Counsel and UN Liaison International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) - 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient. Each presentation was followed by a Q&A segment.

Please click here or on the image below to watch a recording of the Champions of Human Rights: Voices and Action for a Just World webinar, which was presented by CFPA and United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia (UNA-GP) via Zoom on February 2, 2025.

About 45 attended the program, which was moderated by CFPA's Pennsylvania Director, Ed Aguilar. The keynote speaker was Bridget Moix, the General Secretary of the highly respected Friends Committee on National Legislation. Other panelists were Yesenia Rodriguez-Pizarro, Operations Associate, FAIMER Global Coordinator, and a scholar-activist from the Claremont Colleges with a focus on international relations and global treaties, and Executive Director of CFPA, The Rev. Robert Moore. An informative Q&A segment followed.

This event was also co-sponsored by the Bucks County, PA and Trenton, NJ chapters of the United Nations Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania, and the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia.