Philadelphia

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. News, and Other Relevant Links
3. Related Organizations and Resources
4. Featured Resolutions

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Philadelphia illustrates the potential impact of coalition building and campaigning following a strong city history of divestment. 

Philadelphia demonstrates a strong commitment to nuclear disarmament, having passed a Back from the Brink resolution in 2019 and, more recently, a divestment resolution in December 2025. Among a push from numerous cities in 2019, Philadelphia passed a Back from the Brink resolution urging the U.S. to sign on to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). In 2021, Philadelphia passed a resolution advising their pension board to invest in socially and environmentally responsible organizations. Following these resolutions, and vigorous campaigning by Divest Philly from the War Machine Coalition, a resolution calling for the pension board to divest in nuclear weapons organizations and alternatively invest in the needs of the citizens of Philadelphia was passed towards the end of 2025.

During the Cold War, Philadelphia was one of the largest cities in the U.S. due to its robust refinery and chemical industries at the time, and with growing fears of Soviet attack, twelve air missile sites were placed in defense around the city by the early 1950s. Initially, non-nuclear Nike Ajax missiles were stationed at these sites, however as missile technology developed, nuclear Nike Hercules missiles were installed at some of the sites. Meanwhile, as a major city, it grew as a locale for anti-war and pro-peace efforts. Similar to other cities across the country, college campuses were crucial sites for these anti-war protests especially with increased college enrollment due to draft avoidance. Actions included a major hunger strike in 1966, petitions, and public demonstrations, which eventually led the University of Pennsylvania’s Board of Trustees to cancel its chemical and biological warfare contracts with the Pentagon. Actions for peace extended beyond college campuses, with measures taken by peace-promoting organizations such as local branches of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), who organized a protest for “sane nuclear policy” on Oct. 28, 1961. Later, in 1985, Philadelphia joined Mayors for Peace, and in early November 1986, the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament had reached the city. 

But anti-nuclear activism is not just a part of Philadelphia’s past, as recent events are reigniting calls to action. In October 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to build a nuclear-powered submarine in Philadelphia, in agreement with South Korea. This move, along with plans to restart nuclear testing by the U.S. federal government, encouraged vigorous campaigning by the Divest Philly from the War Machine Coalition. Philadelphia illustrates the potential impact of coalition building and campaigning following a strong city history of divestment.