History
NC Peace Action was founded in 1986 under the name of NC SANE/FREEZE as an affiliate of the national organization SANE/FREEZE. When the national group changed its name to Peace Action, we also registered under a new name.
The first director was Margaret Hilpert, who began sending out mailings to organize around freezing the nuclear weapons arms race. Other directors have included Norris Frederick of Charlotte, Bridgette Burge of Knightdale, and Bill Towe of Cary.
We welcome contributions of stories and pictures from people who have been involved in NC peace and justice over the years. Please send your submissions to info.ncpeace@gmail.com.
Our Board
Joe Burton, Treasurer & Raleigh Coordinator
Joe has worked on Peace & Justice issues for years with NC Peace Action and Witness for Peace, and was Peace with Justice Coordinator for the NC Conference of the UMC. He often says that he has opposed U.S. foreign policy all his adult life, beginning with the Vietnam War. He opposes endless wars and believes we need a new nonviolent foreign policy that focuses on human rights and justice. Joe advocates for the abolition of nuclear weapons, ending the trade in arms, and decreasing the Pentagon Budget.
Anne Cassebaum, Secretary
Anne has been with Peace Action and NC Peace Action for decades, working for a saner world, one with real security at home and abroad. Rather than building up our nuclear and military threat, she wants to see people’s needs met in our communities and an end to the brutal American empire. Anne loves the natural world and sees her environmental work as part of the Peace Action mission. She has written a book on the Haw River, taught English for 25 years at Elon University, and helped start a NonViolence Studies minor there.
Joe Cicero, Board Member
Joe is a Professional Peace Activist, working for the largest and oldest grassroots U.S. peace lobby, Peace Action. A former President of the Americans for Democratic Action in Southern CA and Assembly District Delegate in CA, he has worked as a Campaign Manager in local and Congressional elections. He was Founding Director of the Progressive Leaders for Democratic Action, a student group at UCLA, and the Peace Club at Morris County NJ Community College. Joe is proud to be part of the grassroots activism that changes the world.
Sandy Irving, Board Member
A wife, mom of three, and grandmom of 6, Sandy is a retired research associate from School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics at UNC-CH. She has always felt solving problems non-violently, without weapons, was the world she wanted to create and leave for future generations. Her retirement years have allowed for increased activism with her husband Deane.
Scott Oates, Board Member
A NC native and long-time Raleigh resident, Scott was invited to join the NCPA Board of Directors in November 2023. His interest in Peace Advocacy and Human Rights Promotion began in 2003 when he protested the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He invites you to visit his blog and Facebook page. For more on Scott’s education and professional background, please see LinkedIn. You can reach out to him at scott.ncpeaceaction@gmail.com.
Not pictured:
Mia Austin-Scoggins, Media Coordinator
Rachael Bliss, Asheville Coordinator
National Peace Action
For more than sixty years, Peace Action has organized successful campaigns to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons, create a more peaceful economy, and to support diplomatic resolutions to international conflicts. Peace Action’s long and accomplished history can be traced back to 1957, when it operated as SANE and then SANE-FREEZE, working to halt the testing, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons.
National Peace Action organizes a grassroots network to place pressure on Congress and the administration through write-in campaigns, petitions, internet actions, grassroots lobbying, direct lobbying, electoral campaigns and direct action. Through a close relationship with progressive members of Congress, they play a key role in devising strategies to move forward pro-peace legislation — and as a leading member of national coalitions, they lend their expertise and large network to achieving common goals.
Peace Action believes that given the right tools, ordinary people can create a safer, saner, more peaceful world.