The Peace Information Center (PIC) was an anti-war organization based in the United States which provided information on peace initiatives in other countries, and promoted the Stockholm appeal. The organization was in existence from April 3 to October 12, 1950. Members included O. John Rogge, W. E. B. Du Bois, John T. McManus,

Paul Robeson Paul Leroy Robeson ( ; April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American bass-baritone concert artist, stage and film actor, professional American football, football player, and activist who became famous both for his cultural accomplish ...

, C. B. Baldwin, Albert E. Kahn, Johannes Steel,

Gene Weltfish Gene Weltfish (born Regina Weltfish) (August 7, 1902 – August 2, 1980) was an American anthropologist and historian working at Columbia University from 1928 to 1953. She had studied with Franz Boas and was a specialist in the culture and histor ...

, Leon Strauss, Elizabeth Moos, Kyrle Elkin, Abbot Simon and Shirley Graham. W. E. B. Du Bois, a staunch opponent of nuclear weapons, was chairman of the Peace Information Center. It worked to publicize the Stockholm Peace Appeal in the United States. The primary purpose of the appeal was to gather signatures on a petition, asking world governments to ban all nuclear weapons. The PIC issued a publication called ''Peacegram'' that reported on international developments related to peace. The

U.S. Justice Department The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the United States government tasked with the enforcement of federal law and administration of justice in the United States ...

alleged that the PIC was acting as an agent of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

, and thus required the PIC to register with the federal government. Du Bois and other PIC leaders refused, and they were indicted for failure to register. Some of Du Bois's associates distanced themselves from him and the NAACP refused to issue a statement of support, but many leftists and labor figures, including Langston Hughes, supported Du Bois. In late 1952, with defense attorney

Vito Marcantonio Vito is an Italian name that is derived from the Latin word "''vita''", meaning "life". It is a modern form of the Latin name Vitus, meaning "life-giver," as in San Vito or Saint Vitus, the patron saint of dogs and a heroic figure in southern I ...

arguing the case, the case was dismissed. The federal government confiscated Du Bois's passport during the PIC trial, and even though he was not convicted, they withheld it for eight years, because Du Bois had refused to sign a non-Communist affidavit.Lewis (2009), pp 696, 707. In early 1951, following the dissolution of the PIC, DuBois and others established the American Peace Crusade.

Footnotes

References

*Schneider, Paul (2001), "Peace Movement", in ''W. E. B. Du Bois: An Encyclopedia'', Gerald Horne and Mary Young (Eds.), Greenwood, . * Lewis, David Levering, (2009), ''W.E.B. Du Bois: A Biography'', Henry Holt and Co. Single volume edition, updated, of his 1994 and 2001 works. . {{Authority control McCarthyism Anti-communist organizations 1950 establishments in the United States Anti–nuclear weapons movement Peace organizations based in the United States History of social movements Organizations established in 1950 Organizations disestablished in 1950