Members of the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and Nuclear Free Colorado Coalition recently returned from a week of Congressional advocacy in Washington D.C. with the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA).
The Alliance for Nuclear Accountability is a national network of over 30 grassroots organizations formed by communities living in the shadows of nuclear weapons facilities, and concerned about the consequences of U.S. nuclear weapons and waste policies. Since 1989, ANA has hosted Spring D.C. Days, where grassroots representatives from major nuclear sites around the U.S. have joined together in Washington D.C. for a week of action to lobby Congress members and government departments on issues regarding nuclear weapons, power, and waste. The annual DC Days week of action offers a powerful opportunity for nuclear-impacted communities from around the nation to come together, learn from each other, and be a voice for justice in the face of the most dangerous industry the world has ever seen. Here are some reflections from DC Days this year:
The Lows:
There was a particularly ominous feeling in Washington D.C. this year as we were meeting with Congress members against the backdrop of ICE raids and military deployment in L.A., the preparation of a military parade in D.C., genocidal escalation in Gaza and the Middle East, and many other pressing issues. We felt firsthand the consolidation of power occurring in D.C., with government officials getting more and more disconnected from their constituencies each year. On the nuclear side, we learned from our peers in ANA just how much the U.S. nuclear weapons program is escalating, with $2 Trillion being committed towards nuclear weapons modernization and new plutonium pit production. De-regulation of the nuclear industry remains an ever-growing threat, as international nuclear tensions continue to escalate.
The Highs:
We are happy to report that the movement for nuclear accountability remains strong, powerful, resilient, and well-informed on the issues. This year’s DC Days had the most diverse representation of any ANA DC Days delegation to date, with delegates from the Western Shoshone, Southern Paiute, Laguna-Acoma Pueblo, and several other Indigenous nations, as well as a strong presence from youth and frontline communities. Through the ANA DC Days Youth, BIPOC, and Frontline Community Scholarship Fund, we were able to offer financial support to 25 participants to join this year, many of whom were lobbying for the first time. Every year, DC Days offers a powerful opportunity to build national alliances and grassroots power, and to deepen trust and friendship within the national anti-nuclear movement, and this year was no different. In total, we had 55 DC Days delegates participating in 85 meetings with Congressional staff and key government departments. We look forward to continuing to strengthen the national movement for nuclear disarmament and environmental justice.
Read the Full ANA DC Days 2025 Report!
If you would like to learn more about the current state of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex and the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability’s recommendations for Congressional action to halt nuclear weapons development and protect the public from the impacts of radioactive waste, you can read the 2025 DC Days Report, titled “What About Waste? 80 Years of Nuclear”. A copy of this report was given to every Congress member we met with in D.C.
Check out this week’s KGNU Hemispheres program that was aired on Tuesday June 24th, featuring guests from Colorado’s 2025 ANA DC Days Delegation. In this hour-long program, participants discuss reflections from DC Days, updates on the current U.S. nuclear weapons program, the history and significance of Nuclear Guardianship, the injustices faced by frontline communities targeted for nuclear development, and the need for a strong and multifaceted movement for nuclear accountability. We are grateful to KGNU’s Myrna Morales and Elizabeth Ruckus for hosting this program and offering a platform to discuss these important topics!
