First Nation, Village, Town and County Officials, Fire Department, Faith Based & Local Peace Groups to Welcome Iconic Cold War Era Sailing Vessel the Golden Rule!
The Veterans For Peace Golden Rule will be sailing into Port Jefferson Harbor! Local organizations invite you to connect and meet the crew; perhaps be a lucky guest for a brief sail! Visit this historic vessel for conversations about peace, nuclear disarmament, clean water and collective consciousness for our environment. Celebrate the indigenous Setalcott Nation, the original stewards of this waterfront community and the Quakers who first sailed the Golden Rule in 1958.
Port Jefferson is the next port of call for the iconic 30-foot sailing vessel Golden Rule, currently on a journey along the Atlantic coast to raise awareness of the need for nuclear disarmament. In 1958, as atmospheric nuclear testing heightened the stakes in the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, the small boat sailed toward the Marshall Islands aspiring to stop early atmospheric testing.
The Golden Rule is the first sailing vessel in American history to practice non-violent activism on the high seas 65 years ago and was the forerunner for today’s better-known Greenpeace, as well as the template for every kayak, canoe and outboard motorboat that’s peacefully protested anything in the nearly seven decades since. The Golden Rule helped ignite a worldwide movement to end nuclear testing and led to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed by President John F. Kennedy less than five years after their action. The boat has a significant connection to Long Island as its first crew included William Huntington, a Long Island Quaker. In homage to Mr. Huntington, a true trailblazer, the Society of Friends, Conscience Bay Quaker Meeting will join members of the Setalcott Nation in meeting the boat and welcoming its captain and crew.
Special Weekend Events Include:
Friday, May 26th – Estimated time 6:00pm: Welcome Golden Rule & Crew into Harbor: PJ Fire Dept..
will escort the boat into port to be welcomed with ceremonial landing protocol by members of the Setalcott Nation and proclamations of welcome from elected officials, peace groups, and others.
Saturday, May 27th – 11:00-5:00pm: Connect and Learn! Perhaps be a lucky guest of historic Golden Rule for a brief sail! Engage in Storytelling and meet with the crew.
1:00-3:00pm: Boat Building meeting: Long Island Seaport EcoCenter (LISEC), Bayles Boat Shop
Sunday, May 28th-1:00-5:00 pm: BYO Potluck picnic; lawn chairs/blankets
2:00-5:00pm: Peace Song Round Robin featuring some of LI’s Favorite Musicians
Veterans for Peace Historic Golden Rule to Visit Port Jeff Harbor
Co-Sponsors: North Country Peace Group, South Country Peace Group, Veterans for Peace
Special Acknowledgements: The Setalcott Nation, Chairperson Helen Sells; Conscience Bay Quaker Meeting, Religious Society of Friends, Barbara Ransome; Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margot Garant and Trustees; Parks and Recreation Dept.; LI Seaport EcoCenter (LISEC); Veterans For Peace Golden Rule Project; Golden Rule Captain Kiko-Johnston Kitazawa; Veterans For Peace LI Chapter 138 and representatives William Kokell and Gerry Condon Brookhaven Town Councilperson Jonathan Kornreich; Representative, Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn; Peace & Justice groups, including, Building Bridges in Brookhaven; Pax Christi Long Island, Jacqui Jill-Rito and Bob Keeler, North Country Peace Group, South Country Peace Group