Silver City, NM - The Chair of the Grant County Democratic Party, Frances Vasquez, today announced the latest in the series of Thursday public forums at WNMU's Miller Library. To be held Thursday, August 20 at 6pm, "Nuclear New Mexico: Past and Future" will address important issues on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the first test of nuclear weapons here in New Mexico, and their first use in warfare a few weeks later.

Jointly presented by the Grant County Democratic Party, the Gila Friends (Quaker) Meeting, and WNMU's J. Cloyd Miller Library and MEChA, the panel will be moderated by Nick Seibel, publisher of the Silver City Daily Press and Independent. Panelists will include Elizabeth Driggers, representing U.S. Senator Tom Udall's district office; Dara Parker, from U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich's district office; David Culp, of the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Washington, DC; and Paul Magno, of Witness for Peace, Washington, DC. (See attached flyer.)

"New Mexico has played a huge role in the birth of the atomic bomb. The first nuclear explosion at the Trinity Site started the nuclear age 70 years ago, and we're still living with the consequences of that event," declared Ms. Vasquez. "New Mexicans who were exposed to that first bomb have never been recognized as having been harmed, and our Senators are still working to remedy that failure. Meanwhile, the President's deal to stop an Iranian bomb is probably the most serious issue facing us all today."

The public is invited to come and learn from and interact with this knowledgeable panel on these and related issues. As always, food will be served after the forum. Free. For more information, contact the Grant County Democratic Party at 654-6060 or email grantcountydemocrats@gmail.com.