The Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament was a 1986 protest march that crossed the length of the United States to raise awareness of nuclear proliferation and to advocate for complete, verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons from the earth. The Great Peace March consisted of hundreds of people, mostly but not exclusively Americans, who left Los Angeles, California on March 1, 1986. Despite financial difficulties which drove the march's organizers into bankruptcy shortly after it began, the marchers themselves took control of the event and continued onward. They successfully completed the full route of and arrived in Washington, D.C., on November 15, 1986.
The march The Great Peace March was conceived by Los Angeles businessman David Mixner, who formed People Reaching Out for Peace (PRO-Peace), a non-profit organization, to fund the trek. Mixner, an experienced political consultant, began planning for the event in 1984 after his work for the Gary Hart presidential campaign ended in failure,Stein, George. "Rally Spirit Starts Trek for Peace", Los Angeles Times, March 2, 1986, Part II, pages 1 and 2. and announced his plans for the march at the Los Angeles Press Club in April 1985."5,000 Sought for Anti-Nuclear Trek in 1986", Los Angeles Times, April 8, 1985, Part I, page 22.
PRO-Peace hoped to attract corporate sponsors to provide funding for the march, akin to other major charity events of the mid-1980s like Live Aid, Farm Aid, and Hands Across America. However, the issue of nuclear disarmament proved to be too politically controversial for most of the companies PRO-Peace approached, and fundraising fell well below expectations.
Beginning in early February, marchers gathered in a park in Reseda, California to await the beginning of the journey.Smith, Doug. "Peace March's Tent City Rises in Reseda", Los Angeles Times, February 4, 1986, Part II, page 6. The march was supposed to begin with a star-studded benefit concert at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on March 1, but this plan had to be scaled down after PRO-Peace struggled to convince major artists to appear for free.Hendrix, Kathleen. "Peace March Organizers Cancel Send-off Concert", Los Angeles Times, February 17, 1986, Part IV, page 7. The Coliseum still served as the starting point of the march on that date, but the send-off ceremonies were moved a few miles down the road to City Hall, where Mayor Tom Bradley and numerous Hollywood actors wished the marchers well and Melissa Manchester, Holly Near, and Mr. Mister performed on a temporary stage. The 1,200 marchers – about a quarter of the 5,000 that PRO-Peace had hoped to attract – then proceeded to their first overnight campsite on the California State University, Los Angeles campus.
Despite large and well-publicized contributions from celebrities including Barbra Streisand, who gave the march half the proceeds from her rendition of "Somewhere",Raebeck, Wendy. "Go: The 'Impossible Dream' Hits the Road", LA Weekly, March 6, 1986, pages 22, 23, and 25. and Paul Newman, PRO-Peace had raised less than $4 million by the time the march began."All is not harmony with idealistic Peace March", McClatchy News Service, via Redding Record Searchlight, March 4, 1986, page A-9. It was estimated that the march's total expenses would be about $21 million,Gomes, Ruth. "'Better world' his goal", Hanford Sentinel, March 5, 1986, front page. nearly half of which would be needed just to feed the marchers along the way."Peace March loses steam 23 miles from the start", UPI, via Ventura County Star, March 3, 1986, page B-7. Caltrans required event organizers to purchase an insurance policy covering at least $5 million in damages before the marchers would be allowed to travel along state highways, but PRO-Peace was unable to afford this much insurance coverage."Insurance woes stymie peace march", Associated Press, via San Bernardino County Sun, March 1, 1986, pages B-1 and 25. With logistical problems cropping up and uncertainty as to whether they would even be allowed to cross the Cajon Pass out of San Bernardino, over 200 participants dropped out of the march in the first two days, before it had even left the Los Angeles suburbs.
After March 3, however, the group of marchers remained stable at a population of roughly 975 or 980. Although it was impossible to exit San Bernardino to the north without using state roadways, the insurance problem was avoided by having buses transport the marchers much of the way to Hesperia. Six marchers were allowed to follow the entire route on foot to complete the symbolic link.Couey, William. "Peace marchers take the bus instead", Victorville Daily Press, March 7, 1986, front page and page A5.
On March 10, the marchers arrived at a campsite eight miles south of Barstow, planning to hold a peace rally at Barstow Community College the next morning and then proceed through the city and further into the desert. However, the college refused to host the rally without liability insurance, while cold and heavy rains incapacitated several marchers and made further progress impossible."Marchers reach Barstow", Victorville Daily Press, March 11, 1986, page A-2."Peace Marchers Still Miles From Barstow", Desert Dispatch, March 11, 1986, front page. With serious concerns about the safety of marchers in the Mojave Desert and PRO-Peace almost $500,000 in debt, the march remained stalled outside of Barstow for several days.Pollock, Kent. "Peace march foundering on financial rocks", McClatchy News Service, via Victorville Daily Press, March 12, 1986, pages A1 and A2.Whitehair, John, and Chuck Mueller. "Walkers will decide next step in peace march", San Bernardino County Sun, March 13, 1986, pages B-1 and A2.
As supplies ran low, several hundred people left the march. On March 14, Mixner announced to the remaining marchers that PRO-Peace would fold due to its growing debt."Debt stops peace march in its tracks", Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 15, 1986, page 6A. The next day, marchers established a new non-profit organization, The Great Peace March for Nuclear Disarmament Inc., which took control of as much of PRO-Peace's facilities and equipment as possible, while other equipment was seized and repossessed by creditors."Marchers Take Control Of Trek", Desert Dispatch, March 15, 1986, front page.Hendrix, Kathleen. "Great Peace March Stalled in Barstow, but 560 Still Struggle to Continue Trip", Los Angeles Times, March 16, 1986, Part II, page 3. The roughly 500 participants that remained then walked 10 miles to a BMX track on the north side of Barstow, which already had its own liability insurance, ensuring that the marchers would not have to pay that cost themselves."Peace hikers set up new camp", Associated Press, via Palm Springs Desert Sun, March 17, 1986, page A3. The group began raising funds to continue onward, and in the meantime offered acts of community service to the city of Barstow.Gorman, Linda. "City, Marchers Give Each Other Hand", Desert Dispatch, March 22, 1986, front page. The 300 marchers that remained after two weeks in Barstow left the city on March 28 to proceed through the desert toward Las Vegas.Fernandez, Modesto. "Peace Marchers Get Back On Road Again", Desert Dispatch, March 28, 1986, front page. Along the way, they democratically elected a "city council" and a board of directors for the new organization.
The march arrived at the Nevada state line near Primm on April 4, but marchers were forced to wait again while organizers searched for campsites in Nevada they could use. During this time, about 100 of the 320 participants were driven to the Nevada Test Site to join the ongoing protests against the Mighty Oak nuclear test, where dozens were arrested for trespassing alongside Daniel Ellsberg and members of Greenpeace."Nevada nuke test delayed; 89 protesters are arrested", Reno Gazette-Journal, April 9, 1986, pages 1A and 16A. The remaining marchers ceremonially crossed the state border on April 8, although both the California and Nevada highway patrol agencies said their campsite for the past few days had been just within Nevada all along."Protesters take symbolic step into Nevada", UPI, via Reno Gazette-Journal, April 9, 1986, page 2C. On April 10, the march reached Sunset Park in Paradise,"Peace march reaches Las Vegas", UPI, Simi Valley Enterprise, April 11, 1986, page 9. 19 days behind schedule."Peace march itinerary set", UPI, Simi Valley Enterprise, March 2, 1986, page 2. The arrival in Las Vegas Valley coincided with a $25,000 donation to the march from Paul Newman, a substantial boost for an organization that was spending $3,000 a day. Marchers walked down the Las Vegas Strip on April 12,Hendrix, Kathleen. "Peace Marchers Beat the Odds, Reach Las Vegas", Los Angeles Times, April 13, 1986, Part I, pages 3 and 38. then spent the night staying at people's homes on the northeast side of the city before resuming their journey across the desert."Peace marchers continue trek, leave Las Vegas", UPI, via Simi Valley Enterprise, April 14, 1986, page 3. Most of those who were arrested at the Test Site were released from jail after six days and rejoined the march northeast of Las Vegas.
Briefly crossing the Arizona Strip, a group of marchers traveled to Kingman and received a proclamation in their honor from Arizona governor Bruce Babbitt.Daniels, Steve. "Peace group enters state on way east", Arizona Republic, April 21, 1986, page A7. With the help of a rabbi from Las Vegas, the marchers held a Passover seder in Hurricane, Utah.Esplin, Jean. "Marchers end Dixie vacation, go north", St. George Daily Spectrum, April 24, 1986, front page and page 3. On April 24, two marchers who broke from the group to hitchhike to Zion National Park were in a truck that rolled over, killing 24-year-old marcher Cynthia Carlson.
The Utah Department of Transportation warned marchers against trying to cross the unpopulated San Rafael Desert on foot, due to the lack of facilities, the absence of shoulders along the road, and the potential risks of contracting hoof-and-mouth disease and giardia.Vrana, Ralph. "Opinion: Utah is a beehive of peaceful activity", San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune, May 17, 1986, page 9/B. March organizers agreed to be bused from Cove Fort to Salt Lake City, giving them an opportunity to stage public events and raise money in a major city the marchers otherwise would not have visited, before returning to the originally planned route at Cisco, Utah. This detour also allowed marchers to make up for some of the time they had lost in Barstow."Marchers to Visit Wasatch Front", UPI, via Provo Herald, April 23, 1986, page 5. Approximately 50 participants broke off from the main group near Beaver on April 29 and began to march eastward, determined to cross the country on foot without the approval of the march organization or Utah state authorities."50 marchers to hike through Garf. Co.; rest SLC bound", St. George Daily Spectrum, April 30, 1986, front page. These marchers continued until they reached Cisco and completed the cross-country link.Holley, Phil. "Peace March group prefers to stay on foot", Cincinnati Post, May 9, 1986, page 6B. Part of this group then became an "evaluation team" which lagged a few days behind the main march, surveying local residents to determine what effect the march had had on the community.McGregor, Heather. "Floor game shows need for peace, marchers say", Associated Press, via Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, May 16, 1986, page 3B. A similar group covered the route through De Beque Canyon east of Grand Junction, Colorado, which the main group could not follow because of road construction on the narrow alignment of I-70,"Peace March splinter group still in Utah", St. George Daily Spectrum, May 11, 1986, page 4. as well as through Glenwood Canyon.