The US Peace Prize

The US Peace Prize is an annual award given by the US Peace Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization that recognizes the "most outstanding and prominent American antiwar leaders."^[1] The award's first recipient was Cindy Sheehan in 2009.^[2] The mission of the prize is "to inspire other Americans to speak out against war and to work for peace."^[3] The award is presented during an annual ceremony. Prize winners receive a plaque, but no monetary award. They are also designated as Founding Members of the US Peace Memorial Foundation.

The US Peace Prize

Founded	2005; 20 years ago (2005)
Founder	Michael D. Knox
Website	uspeaceprize.org

History

The US Peace Prize is awarded by the US Peace Memorial Foundation, a not for profit 501(c)(3) antiwar organization founded by peace activist and scholar Michael D. Knox in 2005.^[4]

Selection process

Nominees are selected from those listed in the US Peace Registry and must have documented antiwar activities within the 16-month period leading up to April 30 of the nomination year.^[2]

Nominations for the prize are submitted by honorees and founding members of the US Peace Memorial Foundation. The US Peace Memorial Foundation’s Board of Directors chooses the winner.

The 2024 Peace Prize nominees were: Community Peacemaker Teams, Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal, Louis H. Pumphrey, and Ellen Thomas.^[5]

Recipients

US Peace Prize recipients receive a plaque. This plaque was awarded to the Friends Committee on National Legislation.

These are the people and organizations that have received the US Peace Prize:

Year	Recipient	Recognition[6]
2009	Cindy Sheehan[2]	"Extraordinary and innovative antiwar activism.”
2010	Dennis Kucinich[2]	“In recognition of his national leadership to prevent and end wars.”
2011	Noam Chomsky[2]	“Whose antiwar activities for five decades both educate and inspire.”
2012	Medea Benjamin[2]	"In recognition of her creative leadership on the front lines of the antiwar movement."
2013	Chelsea Manning[7]	“For conspicuous bravery, at the risk of her own freedom, above and beyond the call of duty.”
2014	Code Pink[8][9][10][11]	“In Recognition of Inspirational Antiwar Leadership and Creative Grassroots Activism.”
2015	Kathy Kelly[12][13]	“For inspiring nonviolence and risking her own life and freedom for peace and the victims of war.”
2016	Veterans for Peace[2]	“In recognition of heroic efforts to expose the causes and costs of war and to prevent and end armed conflict.”
2017	Ann Wright[14]	“For courageous antiwar activism, inspirational peace leadership, and selfless citizen diplomacy.”
2018	David Swanson[15]	“Whose inspiring antiwar leadership, writings, strategies, and organizations help to create a culture of peace.”
2019	Ajamu Baraka[16][17]	“Whose bold antiwar actions, writings, speeches, and leadership provide an inspiring voice against militarism.”
2020	Christine Ahn[18]	“For bold activism to end the Korean War, heal its wounds, and promote women’s roles in building peace.”
2021	World Beyond War[19]	"For exceptional global advocacy and creative peace education to end war and dismantle the war machine."
2022	Costs of War Project[20][21][22]	"For Crucial Research to Shed Light on The Human, Environmental, Economic, Social, and Political Costs of U.S. Wars.”
2023	National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth[23]	"For National Efforts to Stop U.S. Military Influence on Young People, Saving Lives Here and Abroad."
2024	Friends Committee on National Legislation[24][25]	"For Efforts Over 81 Years to Educate, Build Coalitions & Influence Congress to Stop Funding War & Nuclear Weapons.”

See also

• List of peace activists
• Martin Luther King, Jr., noted peace activist