Second Declaration of Ellen Thomas
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
William Thomas, et. al. | C.A. No. 94-2742
Plaintiffs pro se, | Judge Charles R. Richey
|
v. |
|
The United States, et. al. |
Defendants. |
DECLARATION OF ELLEN THOMAS
March 20, 1995
I, Ellen Thomas, hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the following is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and recollection:
- Since 1987 I have spent most of my time and energy
promoting what has become known as Proposition One, a grassroots
voter initiative campaign to create binding laws that will lead
to the elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide, and redirect the
resources currently wasted on nuclear weapons to convert the
nuclear weapons industries and provide for vital (and neglected)
human needs, such as housing, health care, education,
agriculture, and, perhaps most important, environmental
restoration. Proposition One evolved as a result of thousands of
conversations at our vigil signs, and hundreds of thousands of
signatures on a petition collected since February 1987.
- In December 1990 we incorporated the Proposition One
Committee in order to comply with Washington, D.C.'s election
laws and bring the idea to the voters. See Exhibit 1, Articles
of Incorporation.
- In September 1993, Proposition One won 56% of the vote
as D.C. Initiative 37. As a result, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes
Norton introduced the idea into the House of Representatives in
1994 as "HR-3750, the Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion
1
Act." See Exhibits 2 & 3 ("Proposition One Won!" and H.R. 3750.
- As a result of these successes, my husband and I are
extremely busy both keeping the vigil going and responding to
growing interest in Proposition One.
- For example, in early November, 1994, I traveled to
Japan as a guest of Gensuikyo ("the Council Against A & H
Bombs"), invited to speak about Initiative 37 and HR-3750 to
thousands of peace activists from all over Japan. See Exhibit 4,
"Japan Report."
- Nearly all volunteers who help with Proposition One
initially met us at the vigil. One such volunteer was Wade
Varner, an activist from Oregon (and the Nevada Test Site) who
attended the signs every morning for several weeks during and
after my trip to Japan. See "Declarations of Wade Varner,"
December 22, 1994 and February 14, 1995.
- My husband and I often feel overwhelmed by the tasks we
have undertaken, and have no desire to complicate our lives
further. Frankly, I'm dismayed that once again we have to spend
so many hours in and preparing for Court, with so little hope for
success. Nevertheless, as I have stated before, the issues
involved here are much too important to ignore.
___________________________________
Ellen Thomas - Proposition One Committee &
Peace Park Antinuclear Vigil
POB 27217, DC 20038;
2817 11th Street NW #B
Washington, DC 20001
202-462-0757