Vigils In Montclair, Teaneck Will Commemorate Atomic Bombing Of Japan

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Two upcoming vigils in North Jersey will commemorate the anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings – the only time that nuclear weapons have been used in armed conflict.

Vigils are planned for Wednesday, Aug. 7 in Teaneck and Friday, Aug. 9 in Montclair, according to New Jersey Peace Action, which is spearheading the local events (see details below).

During World War II, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9 in 1945. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them civilians, died in the bombings or from related health problems.

Here are details for the group’s 2024 vigils in Teaneck and Montclair:

• TEANECK – This event will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at the National Guard Armory, 1799 Teaneck Road (corner of Liberty Road and Teaneck Road).
• MONTCLAIR – This event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9 at on Bloomfield Avenue between South Fullerton and Church Street, with participants proceeding to the First Congregational Church at 6 p.m. It will feature music from the Solidarity Singers and speakers (to be announced).

New Jersey Peace Action isn’t the only group in the Garden State that is urging the public to remember the atomic bombings of Japan.

The Green Party of New Jersey is inviting the public to attend a webinar at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday – the 79th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. Pre-register for the event here.

According to a news release, the webinar – which is titled “Never Again!: Remembering the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki” – will discuss the “consequences of the decision to drop the bombs, and also discuss the growing danger of global nuclear war resulting from expanding regional conflicts involving the U.S.”

Speakers will also address the history of the nuclear weapons threat, starting with the Hiroshima and Nagasaki attacks and growing through the Cold War until the current period of extreme danger, when the “Doomsday Clock” is now set to 90 seconds before midnight.

The webinar is being organized by the Green Party US Peace Action Committee (GPAX) and moderated by one of GPAX’s co-chairs and long-time member of the party, Madelyn Hoffman.

“Every day that passes without a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the war in Ukraine brings the U.S. and the world closer to World War III,” Hoffman said.

“Have we learned nothing from the devastation caused by atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which combined killed 210,000 people instantaneously and thousands of others over time from radiation poisoning?” the former gubernatorial candidate pleaded.

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