Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 19, 2026

Colman McCarthy

Colman McCarthy was an American journalist, teacher, lecturer, pacifist, progressive, anarchist and long-time peace activist.

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Colman McCarthy
McCarthy in 2016
Born(1938-03-24)March 24, 1938
New York City
DiedFebruary 27, 2026(2026-02-27) (aged 87)
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Alma materSpring Hill College
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • peace activist
AwardsEl-Hibri Peace Education Prize

Colman McCarthy (March 24, 1938 – February 27, 2026) was an American journalist, teacher, lecturer, pacifist, progressive, anarchist and long-time peace activist.

Early life

Colman Joseph McCarthy was born, the youngest of four brothers, in Glen Head, New York, on March 24, 1938.1

Career

Speaking at the "White House Peace Vigil", June 4, 2006 source ↗

McCarthy's educational philosophy attracted some controversy in the past, with two Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School students calling in 2006 for a more balanced presentation of the issues covered by the class.2

As a pacifist, journalist, and ethical vegetarian, he was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in Sherborn, Massachusetts for his nationally syndicated column in The Washington Post.3 McCarthy also won an Alicia Patterson Foundation fellowship for journalism4 and, in 2010, the El-Hibri Peace Education Prize.5

McCarthy died from complications of pneumonia on February 27, 2026, in La Romana, Dominican Republic, where he was living with his son. He was 87.1

Selected works

  • Disturbers of the Peace: Profiles in Non Adjustment
  • Inner Companions
  • Pleasures of the Game
  • Baseball Forever
  • Involvements: One Journalist's Place in the World
  • All of One Peace
  • I'd Rather Teach Peace
  • Strength Through Peace (editor)
  • Solutions to Violence (editor)
  • At Rest With the Animals
  • My America (contributor)
  • Contemporary Anarchist Studies (contributor)
  • In the Name of Profit (contributor)
  • Peace Is Possible (contributor)
See also

See also

Further reading

Further reading

  • Roberts, Tom (December 31, 2016). "Colman McCarthy makes sure students learn peace". National Catholic Reporter.
  • The New York Times Nov. 17, 1986: Washington talk; A Skirmish Involving a Pacifist
  • The Washington Post Jan. 13, 1985
  • The Washington Post Jan. 12, 1997
  • The Washington Post Feb. 26, 2006
  • The Wall Street Journal Feb. 25, 1998
  • Los Angeles Times Feb. 14, 1994
  • USA Today Oct. 16, 2001
  • Minneapolis Star Tribune Feb. 9, 1990
  • Minneapolis Star Tribune Oct. 4, 1998
  • San Diego Tribune March 12, 1988
  • The Hartford Courant Oct. 3, 1990
  • Greensboro News & Record Jan. 21, 1999
  • Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Nov. 22, 2002
  • The Progressive Nov. 1986
  • The Progressive Jan. 1991
  • Teacher Oct. 2003
  • Vegetarian Times July 1989
  • Washingtonian Feb. 2002
  • Editor & Publisher Feb. 8, 1997
  • Hope Magazine July/August 2003
  • CBS Sunday Morning November 29, 2020
References

References

  1. "Colman McCarthy, who preached peace as a Post columnist and teacher, dies at 87". The Washington Post. February 27, 2026. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  2. "Students Call for Banning of Peace Studies Class" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  3. "The Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Recipients List". The Peace Abbey. Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
  4. "Alicia Patterson Foundation". aliciapatterson.org.
  5. "El-Hibri Peace Education Prize". Prize Laureates. El-Hibri Charitable Foundation. Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
External links