Call Number:

CDG-A.Greenham Women Against Cruise Missiles

Repository:

Swarthmore College Peace Collection

Extent:

1.04 linear ft. (3 boxes (12.5 linear in.))

Preferred Citation:

Cite as: [Identification of item], in the Greenham Women Against Cruise Missiles Collected Records (CDG-A), Swarthmore College Peace Collection.

Date:

1983-1989 (bulk)

Creator:

Greenham Women Against Cruise Missiles, Kirk, Gwyn, Center for Constitutional Rights (New York, N.Y.), and Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp

Abstract:

Greenham Women Against Cruise Missiles was organized in 1983 by a group of women who were part of the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp in Great Britain. Several activists at Greenham organized Greenham Women Against Cruise Missiles, which sought to use the U.S. legal system to challenge the right of the U.S. government to deploy nuclear missiles on foreign soil. Although the suit was unsuccessful, a group of Greenham women traveled around the United States speaking out about the growing objections in the international community to the ongoing escalation of the nuclear arms race.

Greenham Women Against Cruise Missiles was organized in 1983 by a group of women who were part of the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp. The Greenham peace camps were a grassroots anti-nuclear movement in Great Britain. Several activists at Greenham organized Greenham Women Against Cruise Missiles, which sought to use the U.S. legal system to challenge the right of the U.S. government to deploy nuclear missiles on foreign soil. A suit was filed in U.S. fedeal court on their behalf by the Center for Constitutional Rights (New York, New York): "Greenham Women Against Cruise Missiles, et al. against Ronald Reagan, et al." A Superior Court judge in New York ruled that the case was political and could not be heard, and an appellate court upheld that decision. Although the suit was unsuccessful, the Greenham women, led by Gwyn Kirk, used the lawsuit to make the American public aware of growing objections in the international community to the ongoing escalation of the nuclear arms race. A group of Greenham women traveled around the United States speaking out about these issues.