Speech given by SJPJC Coordinator Joan Simon, September 21, 2025…
Welcome Everyone – to the San Jose Peace and Justice Center’s 68th Anniversary celebration, and at the same time, a celebration of the International Day of Peace. My name is Joan Simon, and I am the coordinator for the San Jose Peace and Justice Center. On behalf of the Peace and Justice Center, I want to extend a big thank you to all the organizers who helped plan and prepare this event and to all of us who are here.
The San Jose Peace and Justice Center is here so we have a place to meet, communicate, organize and unite to face these troubled times together.
The San Jose Peace and Justice Center was founded in 1957 by activists, who were concerned about the existence of nuclear weapons and nuclear testing. It was these local activists, realizing the great benefit of having a place of their own, for all activists to use, who worked together to found the Center. Among these founders is our dear Barby Ulmer who also was a past president of the San Jose Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; and Reverend George Collins, affectionately known as Shorty Collins.
The history of the Center is a long and proud one. In the 50’s and 60’s, when there was right wing resistance to the Civil Rights movement, we united with our community to fight it. In the 60s, when the Vietnam War was raging, we united with our community to fight it; In the 70s and 80s, when the US government was supporting oppressive regimes in Central and Latin America, we united with the community to fight it; When the war in Iraq started, which killed 10s of thousands of innocent people, we united with the community to fight it;
Now when the Israeli government is committing genocide with the help of the United States government, we unite with the community to fight it. And when our government sends masked and unidentifiableagents to snatch immigrants off our streets, we unite with our community to fight it. And when our extreme right wing government is trying to impose fascism, we unite with our community to fight it.
Through all of the good and not so good times, it has been the involvement of concerned activists that has kept the Center alive for the progressive movement in the struggles then, the struggles now, and the struggles yet to come.
All of us need to come together to fight the fascist threat. Dialogue and understanding are key to strengthening our collective movement.
The San Jose Peace and Justice Center opens its door to peace and justice organizations, regardless of their ability to pay. This is one of the main ways that the Peace and Justice Center contributes to the local community of progressive organizations —and it’s these organizations, many who are here today, who do the real heavy lifting for our movement.
When our federal government uses its masked, unidentifiable agents to snatch people off the street, it is local community organizations who organize protests and actions against this.
When our government, through the administrations of both major political parties, has supported and continues to support the documented and world-wide condemned genocide by Israel, it is local community organizations who organize protests against this and campaign for our City to divest from the companies involved in supporting the continuation of this genocide.
So I want to thank all the local community organizations and everyone for your fight for peace and justice. And it’s because of your love and dedication to our Peace and Justice Center that we have this place where progressive-minded people can find each other, learn from one another, and organize to fight together against the evils that are happening now and the ones that are still to come. The sight of the National Guard marching through the streets of the cities of our country, should be abhorrent to everyone. We must face this fight and other fights that are still to come, together and united.
Any contributions to help us continue this fight will be highly appreciated.
Viva the San Jose Peace and Justice Center.
The people united will never be defeated.
Thank you.
