The Life of Peace, Social Justice Activist Dave Dellinger Remembered

Interview with Leonard Weinglass, human rights attorney, conducted by Scott Harris

On May 25, David Dellinger, a legendary pacifist organizer who struggled for peace and social justice for more than 60 years, died at the age of 88 in his home state of Vermont. Dellinger, who attended Yale and Oxford, devoted his life to a variety of causes by exercising non-violent direct action. He refused to serve in World War II, for which he went to prison and later published several prominent progressive magazines and spent time in Spain during that nation's pivotal civil war. Dellinger went on to serve as a principal organizer in movements opposing the nuclear arms race and the Vietnam war.

As a defendant in the famous Chicago 8 trial, which followed militant protests that disrupted the 1968 Democratic Convention, Dave Dellinger left his mark as a courageous activist not afraid to speak truth to power. He along with four co-defendants were convicted of crossing state lines to incite a riot, later overturned by a federal appeals court , as were several contempt citations.

Later in life, Dave Dellinger and his wife Elizabeth Peterson moved to Vermont and remained active on many issues including prison reform. At the age of 85, Dave participated in raucous protests in Quebec City aimed at derailing the Free Trade Area of the Americas treaty. Between the Lines' Scott Harris spoke with veteran human rights attorney Leonard Weinglass, who served as counsel, along with William Kunstler, to the defendants in the Chicago 8 trial. Weinglass, who has represented Angela Davis and Mumia Abu Jamal among many others, remembers David Dellinger.

To offer condolences, write to Elizabeth Peterson, c/o Toward Freedom, P.O. Box 468, Burlington, Vermont 05402. Dave Dellinger's autobiography is titled, "From Yale To Jail."

Related links:

Dave Dellinger: The Life of a Nonviolent Warrior," by Greg Guma, Toward Freedom, May 26, 2004

"Nonviolent Warriors: Dave Dellinger and the Power of the People," 2-CD audio documentary set, produced by Toward Freedom

"Remembering Dave Dellinger," by Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, Common Dreams, May 31, 2004

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media.
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