WHITE HOUSE ANTI-NUCLEAR PEACE VIGIL
24-HOURS A DAY SINCE 1981
C. PICCIOTTO & W. THOMAS
P.O. BOX 4931
WASHINGTON D.C. 20008
December 1987 Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Dear Mr. Gorbachev:
This letter was born of discussions and arguments. Although I alone am signing it, it carries within the silence, pain and struggle for peace and justice of many people.
I come to you through this letter to welcome you in Peace to Washington, D.C. and to ask you to continue your courage and wisdom in innovative suggestions aimed at reaching world disarmament.
Your moratorium on weapons testing had tremendous world impact, but a weapons freeze, moratorium or reduction cannot assure survival. Only the absence of genocidal weapons can assure continuance of the species.
We cannot negotiate the amount of evil the world can allow itself. All genocidal weapons are evil.
You may know of me and my own efforts to make an impact on the world toward the same goal, since my antinuclear peace vigil has appeared in newspapers in your country and, I'm told, on television, too. It is known as the "White House Antinuclear Peace Vigil, 24 Hours a Day since 1981, maintained by just two individuals: William Thomas and Concepcion Picciotto."
In spite of our having been jailed several times, having been beaten and abused, and living a very rough life; in spite of our signs and work being confiscated and destroyed, we have always returned to rebuild and share our message even more broadly, refusing to give in to mindless forces, believing that the truth is sure to win. All that matters is that there be justice for all, and not merely for a few.
On December 20, 1984 our subpoena (from Concepcion & Thomas) was served on President Ronald Reagan and a crew of government figures.
Before and since we, Concepcion and Thomas, have suffered much indignity as we maintain our stand right outside the presidential door. Surely there must be a way to bring a halt to such blatant violations of constitutional law, a Constitution that President Ronald Reagan swore he would uphold.
President Reagan goes right on, seemingly unable to explain his action (or inaction) aimed at sinking the Constitution ship he sails.
Demand Peace and Justice, Mr. Gorbachev, for you alone can demand and enforce world disarmament. Do not shrink from the struggle.
I wish you all good health and strength and success in your many difficult tasks.
Sincerely, Concepcion Picciotto IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE
