Offices Close but Peace Trek May Continue
Offices of the “Great Peace March” across America shut down today, but some determined participants said they will continue the ambitious trek for nuclear disarmament on their own, organizers said.
The cross-country march had teetered on the brink of disaster for the past four days, as organizers scrambled to raise $100,000 to pay numerous debts and prepare for the planned desert hike from Barstow to Las Vegas.
“We in good conscience could not assume financial and legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of the marchers as they cross this country for global and nuclear disarmament,” spokesman John Hagelberg said at noon today.
He said the administrative offices of PROPeace in Los Angeles will shut down at the end of the business day. He said a new organization may be formed to carry out the march to Washington.
The march had been envisioned as 5,000 demonstrators striding from Los Angeles to Washington in 8 1/2 months in hopes of inspiring global nuclear disarmament.
The march started with 1,200 participants, but by Thursday California Highway Patrol Capt. Duane Clements put the number of campers at 511. March organizers said 950 were still in the camp.
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