Wally Nelson, 1909-2002
As a committed advocate of active nonviolence, Wally Nelson refused to bear
arms during World War II. He served in a Civilian Public Service camp,
followed by three and a half years in federal prison. While in prison, he
played a key role in ending racial segregation as the official policy of the
federal prison system.
In 1947, Mr. Nelson participated in the first interracial Freedom Ride,
traveling by bus through the Southern states to test the landmark U.S.
Supreme Court decision banning racial segregation in interstate
transportation. In 1948, he co-founded Peacemakers, a national organization
dedicated to active nonviolence as a way of life. In the same year, he and
his wife, Juanita Nelson, began their lifelong practice of refusing to pay
taxes used for armaments and killing.
Condolences to the Okot Family
Alba Okot, the wife of Peace Action Maine activist Richard Okot and a
refugee from Sudan's civil war, was killed in a tragic automobile accident
on Saturday, May 18. Esther Okot, her daughter, was critically injured. The
Okots came to the United States after being made refugees in the
longest-lived civil war on the African continent, a war fueled by U.S. arms
sales to all sides in the conflict.
Alba and Esther were driving to Norton, Massachusetts to attend Jackson
Okot's graduation ceremonies from Wheaton College
Richard Okot has been attending veterinary school in Edinburg, Scotland
since last fall.
Thank you to all who contributed over $1900 to help the Okot family through
this difficult time.