Eventful journey of 60 plus years for LEPOCO
God Bless the founders, pioneers, and the current team.
LEPOCO, the familiar acronym for the Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern, has over 60 years of history and is known to thousands, loved by many , and despised by more than a few. Is this a Guinness book record?
LEPOCO’s roots date back to the early 60’s to a group of people concerned about the Vietnam War and other issues of world peace. They called themselves the “Lehigh Valley Peace Council.”
Despite a history plagued with partisanship, wars, regime change, natural disasters, and the invasion of sovereign nations, LEPOCO has endured as one of the oldest peace and justice organization in Lehigh Valley.
LEPOCO ROOTS
In November 1965, a group of Lehigh Valley residents including Bob Thompson, ran Dresbach, Susie and Artie Ravitz decided that the area should be represented in DC on Nov. 27 for the “March on Washington” rally.
The “Ad Hoc Committee of Concern for Vietnam” was created and soon became the “Lehigh- Pocono Committee of Concern for Vietnam” (LEPOCO.)
Early History:
The founding members of LEPOCO believed strongly in the U.S. political system, political activism, justice, and so sought to express their point of view through the ballot box, writing op-ed columns, vigils, and demonstrations.
Book Read group every month
Speak Up! Silent No More!
In 1967, LEPOCO picketed Hubert Humphrey when he spoke at the dedication of Freedom High School in Bethlehem and sent two busloads to the “March on the Pentagon.”
In June of 1968 LEPOCO showed that its concern went beyond Vietnam and joined 50,000 other people in Washington for “Solidarity Day” at Resurrection City and also took five busloads of people to Washington for the biggest rally “Walk the Peace.”
Early 1969, anti-war and anti-draft sentiment reached its peak. LEPOCO sent a busload to Scranton for Neal Neamand’s trial challenging the draft.
It was also the climax of the civil rights movement of nonviolence for justice and equality for African Americans to abolish legalized racial segregation.
This was the beginning of Easton vigils which became a silent memorial for Martin Luther King after his assassination and still continues today.
Rally of over 600 students were very common at Moravian College and Lehigh University which became known as “Walk for Peace.” Students picketed carrying signs saying “Stop the bombing” & “End the War.”
Walk for Peace Committee
LEPOCO was involved in virtually every anti-war protest of the era. W.D. Ehrhart, an ex-Marine who served in Vietnam and has written three volumes of anti-war poetry.
In 1972, LEPOCO members spent Holy Week in Harrisburg, giving moral support to the Rev. Philip Berrigan and Sister Elizabeth McAlister, who were on trial as part of an anti-war group known as the Harrisburg Seven.
Richard M. Nixon called LEPOCO members “labor thugs” after they held a protest in Allentown on June 18, 1972, the day Trisha Nixon dedicated the Allentown Boys Club.
In 1976 known as Muhlenberg five members of LEPOCO were arrested protesting the speech by FBI director Clarence M. Kelly at the Allentown campus, went all the way to the State Supreme Court to uphold their right to peaceful protest.
With the end of the Vietnam war, LEPOCO shifted its focus to issues like disarmament, military-industrial-complex, the environment, military bases around the world , nuclear power plants and global issue of US hegemony.
Potluck & Politics program imitated by LEPOCO members shared an evening meal and heard experts discuss the global issues concerning Palestine and regime change by the CIA.
“The people involved in LEPOCO see peace as a long-term effort,” said Nancy Tate, a former social worker who has run the LEPOCO office since 1974.
“It was not just about stopping the war in Vietnam. There are other problems endemic to American society that allowed Vietnam to happen,” Tate said
John Wallach, a retired Allentown steel worker, a veteran said “Whenever my country is doing something I am opposed to, I have the right to counteract it…I hate to go to another place in the world and hear them say, ‘Yankee go home.’ Our government is doing terrible things to other countries.”
Speakers like John Oliver Nelson, Seymour Hersh, Jane Fonda, and Tom Hayden spoke at universities and a group from Allentown College walked from Center Valley to Muhlenberg carrying a casket.
Reading of names of the war dead at Easton and Bethlehem square were done by Bill Gramley, Guy Gray, Bryn Hammarstrom, Howard Cox, Edith Scott, Sally Seem, Emily Cox and Joe Osborne.
In 1970, LEPOCO had some finances issues, however according to John Wood, an engineering professor at Lehigh University and a go-between an anonymous donor that enabled LEPOCO to open an office in February 1971.
John Wood, then in the first of his two terms as chairman, was shocked upon arriving home one night and finding an envelope with $5000 in his dining room.
On February 14, 1971, LEPOCO members ratified the constitution and by-laws, The office at 14 West Broad Street, Bethlehem, was opened on Feb. 20 and Anna Hunt took on the job of coordinator. LEPOCO became a corporation early in 1971.
1971 was a very eventful year for LEPOCO.
LEPOCO started the monthly book read, and “Reels & Spiels” series of showing film which still continues every month. The film “Selling of the Pentagon” was the first film shown.
During 1972 and 1973, LEPOCO members started to get involved in many different concerns, including the United Farm Workers union and tax reform (a local chapter of the T.E.A. Party was formed).
LEPOCO also started seriously calling for Nixon’s impeachment and worked hard to bring this about. Also in 1973, Hans Wuerth took over the helm of LEPOCO.
After six-decades later, a group of people concerned about all wars and working for peace continues the mission of that early pioneers.
Who LEPOCO is?
A nation that continues to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death – Dr. MLK Jr.
There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people. – Howard Zinn
LEPOCO was registered in 965 in the Lehigh Valley to oppose the Vietnam war as a non-profit citizens group of more than fifteen hundred members. LEPOCO’s mission has broadened to include a range of problems that threaten peace and our planet.
LEPOCO members share a vision that we can build a safer and more just world. Gathering strength from our diversity, we work together and as individuals for nonviolent changes, starting in our own community.
LEPOCO members have opposed U.S. military intervention around the globe. U.S. troops are present in over 150 of the 196 nations with over 850 bases around the world and spend more on its military than the next 10 countries combined.
The real threats in our world are poverty, disease, violence, pollution, global warming, racism, hatred, and ignorance. Compassion and cooperation are more effective than guns and missiles in addressing these threats.
LEPOCO seeks an end to U.S. arms sales to any parties in conflicts, forgiveness of debt for poor countries, an end to alliances with repressive governments and international engagements based on mutual respect.
Our nation’s wealth is used to feed military adventures (Iraq, Syria, & Afghanistan), to build fantastic weapons, to create a fortress called “homeland security” and an ever-increasing military budget.
The greatest profiteers are the weapons industries and military contractor’s military-industrial-complex. Nuclear disarmament is also long overdue. US has over five thousand nuclear bombs.
As the country that invented, first used nuclear bombs (and depleted uranium weapons), and still has the largest nuclear weapons arsenal, the United States should take the lead in the nuclear disarmament race.
U.S. compliance with existing international treaties would be an important step toward nuclear and general disarmament. We need to move beyond the “War On Terror” and “Islamophobia” that so warped our country’s actions for decades resulting in troubling moves to curtail civil liberties.
Environmental Security
The poisoning of our environment and threat of global warming due to fossil fuels is a growing catastrophe. MIC is the prime source of carbon emission and the Pentagon is exempt from carbon emission. Why?
Economic & Community Justice
Our economy should place people ahead of profit and encourage democracy in the workplace as well as the community.
We support our community institutions — public schools, libraries, public transportation, and public parks. Health care and decent housing need to be available and affordable for all.
What We Do
LEPOCO works to build a just society and a peaceful world through nonviolent action. LEPOCO has quarterly newsletters and monthly Emails to keep our members informed of upcoming activities and report on our work and issues of concern.
LEPOCO presents expert speakers, study groups, nonviolence training, a monthly “book read, film series and informal “Potluck and Politics” sessions for our members and the community. Most welcome to join!
LEPOCO has quarterly newsletter, monthly Email updates, outreach programs, petition signing, resources center, public actions, and calling elected officials on issues concerning the welfare of the community.
LEPOCO members engage in leafleting, tabling, vigils, demonstrations, and civil disobedience to focus attention on crucial issues on criminal justice issues. We often organize buses and carpools to national demonstrations.
Peace Camp: Young people (completed grades k-7), teens, and adults are invited to participate storytelling, games, music and crafts each July. This years Peace Camp is on July 24th – July 28, please register below.
https://lepoco.org/peace-camp/
How We Function.
LEPOCO is run by its members, whose dues, contribution, and fundraising projects are the primary source of the organization’s finances. Our Peace Center office at 1705 West Broad Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018, (610) 691-8730, is staffed and open weekdays.
No organization can be more than the people who comprise it. If you are in the Lehigh Valley area and concerned about the issues LEPOCO addresses, we would like to hear from you.
If you are close by, stop in the Peace Center. You can call us at 610-691-8730 or contact us at lepoco@fast.net or www.lepoco.org.
Lastly, no organization can survive without funding. So, a humble request and no amount is small . Every donation is acknowledged and accepted with a sincere heart. Please visit the below donation page or mail the check.