MA State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa of the 1st Hampshire District of Massachusetts, pictured above with Congressman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts meeting the Mayor of Hiroshima, Kazumi Matsui, during the UN meeting for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Representative Sabadosa visited Hiroshima this past summer. Mayor Kazumi Matsui is the president of the Mayors for Peace organization. Mayors for Peace has over 8,000 member cities in over 166 countries including Northampton, MA in Sabadosa’s district.
Representative Sabadosa also attended the meeting for parliamentarians engaging in discussion on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons that took place Monday, November 27th. You can read the full statement from the Parliamentary meeting to the Second Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW here, or learn more about Congressman McGovern at the meeting here.
Strong Grassroots in Massachusetts
Afterwards the parliamentary meeting, she joined Jim McGovern (US Congressman, MA), Bill Kidd (Member of the Scottish Parliament), and Frank Cownie (Mayors for Peace US Vice president, Mayor of Des Moines, Iowa) (pictured below) for a press conference outside the UN. Sabadosa reaffirmed her dedication to the fight against nuclear weapons, praised her dedicated constituents, and emphasized the need for strong grass roots movements across the world.
“In Massachusetts, we have municipal leaders, state level legislation, and then of course, wonderful federal partners who are trying to address this issue on all three levels of government. It is, I think, inspiring to be here. I’ve learned a lot today, and I just feel extremely recommitted to the fight. Because it is – it does take a very strong grass roots level – I have a lot of constituents here today, which makes me laugh, because clearly, there’s a grass roots in my district which has pushed me to be committed, and we’re going to need to see that in every district across the country to make real change — and abroad”
Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa
Congressman Jim McGovern and State Rep Lindsay Sabadosa, both from Massachusetts, were there only US representatives at the UN meeting for the TPNW.
MA legislation still pending
Sabadosa has introduced legislation with State Senator Joanne Comerford to establish a Nuclear Weapons and Climate Citizen’s Commission in Massachusetts to advise on the extent of state investments in nuclear weapons, the impact of nuclear weapons facilities on communities in the state, and the transition of these resources to the green technologies necessary for addressing the climate crisis.
The Commission bills H. 738 / S.1488 are currently both sitting in Committee in Massachusetts. You can write letters in support of the nuclear and climate commission here!
