The Albany Times Union described Pat Beetle as the grand dame of activism in the Capital Region. She was the major leader of Upper Hudson Peace Action ever since its beginning. She was the original co-chair of the US-USSR Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign. She went on to serve for many years as the coordinator of Upper Hudson Peace Action and now serves as our chair.
Pat worked with the Alternatives to Violence Program since 1979, working with prisoners in New York State prisons. She served on the board of Albany’s Mediation Center. She participated at the national level in the Friends Committee for National legislation.
She took the lead in advancing peace issues among New York State Quakers. For many years she clerked the Peace and Service Committee of Albany Friends Meeting. She served several terms on the Upstate New York Committee of the American Friends Service Committee.
Pat stood countless hours on vigil lines, circulated petitions, met with elected officials, and handed out tens of thousands of leaflets protesting the Vietnam War, the US wars on Central America, and both Iraq wars. On several occasions she was arrested for committing civil disobedience.