Long-time peace and justice activist, pacifist, photographer, and Socialist and Green political candidate David McReynolds died two days ago, passing away after a fall from which he did not recover. He was a long-time staff member of the War Resisters League and stayed active with the organization. Below is an obituary from the War Resisters League. McReynolds ran for president as a Socialist in 1980 and 2000. He was the first openly gay presidential candidate for any party. The New York Daily News online obituary reported that David’s first foray into politics as a teenager with the Prohibition Party.
David McReynolds (the tallest one) burns his draft card, December 6, 1965.
On December 6, 1965, he joined a small group of draft-age men in the public burning of their draft cards. It made the front page of the New York Times. A local paper reported a reunion of some of the group two years ago: “McReynolds, an atheist who lives in the East Village, described his decision to burn his draft card as ‘an act of penance’ for supporting President Johnson the year before. I thought he would stop the slide to war.” All of the five draft-card burners were eventually arrested and most served short prison sentences, except for McReynolds, who by then was too old to be inducted.
The Green Party of New York wrote:
The Green Party of New York State today mourned the passing of David McReynolds at the age of 88, long-time anti-war activist, editor of the journal Liberation, Socialist Party USA presidential candidate in 1980 and 2000, and former Green candidate for US Senate in 2004. He was a longtime member of the War Resisters League, and helped organize one of the earliest draft-card burning protests against the Vietnam War. Party officials said McReynolds was an inspiring and dedicated advocate for peace and socialism, and that he would be greatly missed.
“I was deeply saddened to hear about David’s death. Long an admirer of David’s work, I was privileged to coordinate his U.S. Senate campaign for the Green Party in 2004. His unwavering commitment to peace and social justice was a foundation of the anti-war movement and an inspiration to us all. I remember fondly not only the rich political conversations and sometimes disagreements but also the wonderful stories of his time in the movement and of course sharing photos and the antics of our cats over the years. He was a mentor, comrade and friend. His gentleness, intellect, humor and dedication to peace will be missed by us all,” stated Gloria Mattera, party co-chair.
Gloria added, “All his life he adored animals, most especially cats (sadly, Shaman, his cat — seen in the photo — died the day before).”
Chuck Fager in ‘David McReynolds: A Peace Titan Is Gone” includes some quotations from a speech given by McReynolds. Here is a portion of those quotes:
It has been a good life in which, looking back, I am moved by the thought that at one time or another I walked in the company of giants such as Alvin Ailey, Norma Becker, Karl Bissinger, Maris Cakars, Sam Coleman, Dave Dellinger, Barbara Deming, Ralph DiGia, William Douthard, Peggy Duff, Allen Ginsberg, Gil Green, Arthur Kinoy, A.J. Muste, Grace Paley, Igal Roodenko, Bayard Rustin, Myrtle Solomon, and Norman Thomas. And was arrested with more than half of them.
I am deeply moved by those who organized this event and by WRL, which put up with me for nearly four decades, and the Socialist Party, which twice honored me with their nomination for President. . . . .
First, do not be dismayed that we are in such a troubled time. Large numbers of Americans seem impressed by Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, or Donald Trump. Would you rather have found yourselves in a comfortable time when your voice wasn’t needed?
. . .
Even in defeat, we are victorious, for we have given our lives a meaning others should envy. In struggling for something greater than ourselves, we will be transformed.
McReynolds photography included his international travel, civil rights, demonstrations, the War Resister’s League, the Socialist Party, and cats, among other topics. You can view his photography here.
KZ
David McReynolds, socialist, photographer, and lifetime WRL member, passes at 88
Photo Credit Ed Hedemann
Early this morning, socialist, photographer, and lifetime War Resisters League member David McReynolds – committed pacifist + socialist – passed peacefully at the age of 89. David was on WRL staff for a large part of his life and remained within community long, long after.
Presente.
As written by WRL Member Ed Hedemann:
David McReynolds (1929-2018) died at 1:30 this morning, a day after being brought to Beth Israel ICU in Manhattan. He had suffered a fall in his apartment and apparently never regained consciousness.
I first met him during a trip from Austin to NYC in 1970, and three years later joined him as a member of the War Resisters League staff. Though we would periodically differ on tactics and politics, he could always be relied upon as a brilliant, challenging, blunt thinker, speaker, and writer, who many times came up with projects — some resulting in his arrest — that would help propel WRL’s militantly pacifist message to the wider public.
For those who don’t know, David was on the WRL staff for almost 40 years (1960-1999), a long time member of the Socialist Party, who ran for Congress in 1958 and 1968, President of the United States on the SPUSA ticket in 1980 and 2000 — the first (I think) openly gay candidate for President — and for the U.S. Senate from New York in 2004 on the Green Party ticket. An internationalist and former chair of the War Resisters’ International, he traveled extensively, many times to war-torn countries, once getting arrested in Red Square during an anti-nuclear protest in 1978.
David McReynolds speaking at a War Resisters League event.
Born in 1929 in Los Angeles, he moved to the East Village in 1956 and began working for Liberation magazine, before joining the WRL staff. An avid photographer, a collection of his photos can be found at http://www.mcreynoldsphotos.org/. All his life he adored animals, most especially cats (sadly, Shaman, his cat — seen in the photo — died the day before), was a dedicated member of the Bromeliad Society and many other groups that I don’t have time to research before this quick post.
Heartbreaking.
David’s family and friends will be planning a memorial service in the weeks to come.
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Long-time peace and justice activist, pacifist, photographer, and Socialist and Green political candidate David McReynolds died two days ago, passing away after a fall from which he did not recover. He was a long-time staff member of the War Resisters League and stayed active with the organization. Below is an obituary from the War Resisters League. McReynolds ran for president as a Socialist in 1980 and 2000. He was the first openly gay presidential candidate for any party. The New York Daily News online obituary reported that David’s first foray into politics as a teenager with the Prohibition Party. 
