#30-25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 7, 2025

New York City Hosts Event to Commemorate the Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Impact of Nuclear Weapons

Event at Poster House Brings Together City Officials, Artists, Advocates and Community Members to Reflect on Nuclear History and New York City's Role in the Movement for a Nuclear Weapons Free World

NEW YORK -- New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) and the Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone and Disarmament Advisory Committee co-hosted an event on Wednesday, August 6 at Poster House to commemorate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The event brought together officials, artists, and advocates to honor the victims, reflect on the ongoing threat of nuclear weapons, and reaffirm New York City’s role in supporting global disarmament.

“This historical tragedy calls on all of us to confront the human cost of war and the unmatched danger posed by nuclear weapons that remain even today,” said NYCEM Commissioner Zach Iscol. “The destruction in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and its lasting effects, serve as a stark reminder that the continued development and testing of nuclear weapons remain a constant threat to our humanity; the legacy of destruction did not end with WWII, and we must work to ensure the world never forgets what these weapons do. As a city that hosts the United Nations, gave birth to the Manhattan Project, and is home to communities shaped by war, displacement, and global unrest, we have a responsibility to preserve that history, to face its lessons directly, and to keep them part of our public consciousness.”

“As the city where the Manhattan Project began, New Yorkers have a moral obligation to acknowledge the catastrophic humanitarian impact of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and heed the call of survivors to work for a nuclear weapons-free world,” said Dr. Matthew Breay Bolton, member of the Advisory Committee and professor of political science at Pace University. “New York City’s Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone reduces risks to our city and as a member of the global Cities Appeal of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), NYC inspires other local authorities to take action. Today’s gathering reminds us there is still work to be done, including remediating the radioactive legacies of the Manhattan Project in our neighborhoods, raising public awareness and ending city investments in nuclear weapons production.”

The program featured a guided tour of Fallout: Atoms for War & Peace, followed by a panel discussion focused on the legacy of nuclear weapons and the path toward disarmament. The exhibition, currently on view at Poster House through September 7, examines the global development of nuclear technology throughout the second half of the twentieth century. It highlights both peaceful uses and wartime applications, presenting roughly 60 posters that span corporate promotion and grassroots protest. Key works include Erik Nitsche’s General Dynamics series promoting “Atoms for Peace” and anti-nuclear posters by British artist Peter Kennard. Curated by Angelina Lippert and Tim Medland, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the cultural and political impact of the atomic age.

New York City has long served as a platform for international peace and dialogue. In 2021, the City Council passed legislation reaffirming New York City as a Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone status, designated by a 1983 resolution, which prohibits the production, transport, and storage of nuclear weapons within city limits. It also established the Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone and Disarmament Advisory Committee to advance public education and civic engagement on these issues.

For more information about New York City’s disarmament efforts, or to read the Nuclear Disarmament and Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone Advisory Committee’s report, visit https://on.nyc.gov/41px0Hs.

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