Stand With Life and Against Nuclear Weapons: August 8–9, 2026
As communities around the world prepare to commemorate the 81st anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, organizers are inviting the public to gather on August 8–9, 2026, at Ground Zero in Poulsbo, Washington, for a weekend of education, reflection, and action.
The event, themed “Stand With Life and Against Nuclear Weapons,” will feature an array of activities focused on raising awareness about the ongoing threat of nuclear weapons and advocating for a more peaceful future.
Highlights include a presentation by journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin, creator of the documentary Earth’s Greatest Enemy, as well as opportunities for participants to engage in direct action at Bangor Naval Base for those interested.
Organizers encourage community members, organizations, and advocates for peace and justice to attend and help spread the word about this important gathering.
Event Dates: August 8–9, 2026
Location: Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, Poulsbo, WA
RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMrR4ztBmaJY27sbPvl07m41m-HKhdVAyPr8uhidPagR6Dog/viewform
Together, we remember the past, honor the lives lost, and reaffirm our commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons.
WAISN: ICE & CBP Funding Comes at the Expense of Healthcare, Housing, and Vital Needs for All Washingtonians
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, June 12, 2026
Contact: waisn@pacificastrategies.com
ICE & CBP Funding Comes at the Expense of Healthcare, Housing, and Vital Needs for All Washingtonians
Washington State – In response to Congress passing a reconciliation package that provides $70 billion to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), for the express purpose of expanding enforcement efforts through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) issued the following statement:
“This latest funding passage means that Congress has now approved an unprecedented total $240 billion for immigration enforcement efforts in less than a year. Decades of evidence illustrate that ICE and CBP operations put lives in jeopardy, and their escalating operations to round up and incarcerate millions of immigrants put all of us in danger. Congress’ choice to expand billions in funding to agencies that surveil and criminalize immigrants, especially transgender, queer, Black, Indigenous, and poor migrants, undoubtedly threatens our families, our freedoms, and our futures.
“As a network fighting for immigrant justice, our Deportation Defense Hotline has received thousands of alarming reports of family separation here in Washington state, including reports of immigration enforcement agents’ conduct endangering community members and requiring emergency medical attention due to twisted limbs and elevated blood pressure. Family members of injured community members reported witnessing bruising, wounds, and signs of physical abuse of their loved ones after interactions with agents.
“These documented reports in Washington are not isolated: this is a pattern of cruelty from an administration that refuses to recognize the humanity and dignity of the immigrants they target. Communities want leaders focused on lowering the cost of groceries, housing, and healthcare for everyone, regardless of immigration status, not spending billions of taxpayer dollars expanding a detention system notorious for its well-documented abuse, neglect, and inhumane treatment.”
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As the largest immigrant justice network in Washington State distributed across 39 counties, WAISN convenes and cultivates a transnational solidarity coalition of over 600 organizations and individuals to protect and advance the power and rights of all immigrant and refugee communities. WAISN’s queer and transimmigrant-led efforts invest in intersectional base building and growing the leadership of forced migrants statewide.
For immediate release
June 10, 2026
Tacoma Mayor Calls for Sane Nuclear Weapons Policy, Joins Mayors for Peace
Local activists, peace laureates, and physicians gathered at city hall on June 9th, 2026 as Mayor Anders Ibsen proclaimed his support for the international Mayors for Peace network, and urged federal leaders to take action to prevent a new nuclear arms race.
Speakers included Greater Tacoma Peace Laureates Diane Powers and Sallie Shawl, local physician Dr. Karl Riecken, and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility program manager Sean Arent. They addressed the end of the NewStart Treaty, the scale of modern nuclear weapons, impacts to local communities like the Marshall Islanders, and the action of the late Tacoma Peace Laureate Father Bill “Bix” Bischel who participated in a non-violent direct action at the Kitsap-Bangor Naval Base in 2012 that put a spotlight on the base’s possession of other a thousand deployed nuclear weapons.
You can view the mayor’s statement on facebook and instagram.
This action was made possible thanks to a letter signed by a majority of Tacoma’s Greater Peace Laureates. A similar action was requested of the Tacoma City Council. Activists are encouraged to write to the Tacoma City Council to pass a companion “Back from the Brink” resolution.
House passes DHS funding bill for additional $70 billion to ICE/CBP
Official Statement from OneAmerica
“With a heavy heart and despite all of our collective efforts, the Republican-led House voted (214-212) to pass the DHS funding bill (aka “Secure America Act”) today to give $70 billion more to the $170 billion from HR1 for immigration enforcement. No additional guardrails or accountability for ICE/CBP were added. All House and Senate Democrats, and the Democratic caucus from Washington state, voted against the bill. Only Rep. Kevin Kiley from California, who left the GOP to be an independent but caucuses with the Republicans, joined the Democrats in voting no. It will now go to the president for signature.
Most alarmingly, as I wrote earlier on, there is $350 million specifically allocated for ICE to target localities that do not coordinate directly with ICE. Washington state falls into a non “qualified cooperating jurisdiction.”
What we did:
- We made sure that all Democratic Washington state House and Senate members held strong in voting no on the funding and anti-immigrant amendments.
- We sent in a letter of (now 50) WA organizations to all Democratic House and Senate members–hopefully this helped our ongoing engagement and helps our Congressional members continue to double down on their fight for our immigrant communities.
- We collectively mobilized the public to contact Congress to tell them we want taxpayer dollars spent on making our lives more affordable, healthier, and safer—not on the mass deportation agenda. OneAmerica was able to mobilize 800+ letters in the last few weeks, and I know all of our partners have also worked hard to organize and turn out voices on this too.
What to do next:
- Thank our Democratic House and Senate members for voting no on this DHS funding bill, and engage with them on other advocacy. Please stay tuned on this front and/or continue to do this advocacy!
- Collectively hold accountable all Congressmembers who voted for $70 million additional ICE and CBP funding. We also sent the letter to Rep. Dan Newhouse (R), who unfortunately voted yes on this bill. Rep. Michal Baumgartner (R) also voted yes.
- Continue to fight to claw back money in the next Congress, and redirect DHS funding to services that benefit communities across the US.
- Continue to support WA state and local jurisdiction’s stances on not using our public resources for mass immigration enforcement, such as KWW, and keep fighting for local and state funding for services to support immigrant communities and organizations that serve them.”
Nearly half a million households will benefit from the Working Families Tax Credit expansion funded by the Millionaires Tax
See fact sheet via Washington State Budget and Policy Center