More than 60 people gathered in Watertown Square last night for a vigil remembering the 74th anniversary of the United States dropping nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The event was organized by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment.

They stood on corners around the square with signs: “Abolish Nuclear Weapons,” “Hiroshima & Nagasaki Never Again,” “Build a Non Violent World.” Then they moved to the dock on the calm Charles River to remember the Japanese dead—as well as the people murdered in shooting massacres in El Paso and Dayton over the weekend.

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)

“We stand in silence to remember the more than 210,000 innocent men, women and children who died a horrible death and the many more injured by the U.S. nuclear attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” Tony Palomba said. “We stand in silence to remember the 29 dead and 49 injured—men, women and children—in mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton. … We stand in silence to remember the violence of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the violence of Dayton and El Paso are grounded in a society that places war and aggression over peace and community.”

Others affirmed and added to his statements. They lit lantern boats and people in a canoe and kayak floated them on the Charles River. Then they sang old folk songs: “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine…”


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Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Lighting the lanterns during the Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Lighting the lanterns during the Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Loading a canoe with lanterns for the Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Loading a canoe with lanterns for the Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Singing during the Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Singing during the Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
A kayak loaded with lanterns for the Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
A kayak loaded with lanterns for the Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Television cameras recorded the Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Television cameras recorded the Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Vigil in Watertown Square, Aug. 4, 2019. (Greg Cook)

If this is the kind of coverage of arts, cultures and activisms you appreciate, please support Wonderland by contributing to Wonderland on Patreon. And sign up for our free, weekly newsletter so that you don’t miss any of our reporting.


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