KGRA Host Garry Davis Passes Away at 91

From Race Hobbs:

Tonight we mourn one of our very own... Rest In Peace my friend. Your message will carry on!
_____________________________________________________________________________

GARRY DAVIS, WORLD CITIZEN #1, PASSES AWAY AT 91

Garry Davis passed away July 24, 2013, in Burlington, VT. Dubbed “World Citizen #1,” he was the author of nine books, founder of the World Service Authority, host of a weekly World Citizen Radio Show and passionate advocate of his cause up until his passing.

Davis lived as a citizen of no nation, only the world – for 65 years. He was hailed by Albert Einstein for “the sacrifices he has made for the well-being of humanity,” extolled by Buckminster Fuller as “the new World Man”, encouraged by Eleanor Roosevelt to start “a worldwide international government,” and defended by Albert Camus and Albert Schweitzer.

Born 27 July 1921 in Bar Harbor ME to pianist Hilda Emery and band-leader Meyer Davis, Davis was an actor/singer on Broadway, enjoying a huge success when he stood in for Danny Kaye in the hit show “Let’s Face it”. When the US entered WWII, his beloved brother Meyer, Jr. (Bud) entered the navy and Davis entered the Army Air Corps. When Bud was killed-in-action and Garry had to bomb Brandenburg, he was profoundly shaken. After the war, he was determined to do everything he could to prevent World War III.

In 1948 he went to Paris where the United Nations met. He officially renounced his U.S. citizenship and offered himself to the UN as their first “World Citizen.” The UN declined, but Albert Einstein and Albert Schweitzer lent him their support, while Albert Camus, Robert Sarrazac and 20,000 people rallied with him to demand that the UN recognize the Rights of Humanity. The next day, December 10, the Soviet Bloc abstained and the UN passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) without opposition.

Five days later Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in her My Day Column: “How very much better it would be if Mr. Davis would set up his own governmental organization and start then and there a worldwide international government”. Davis later co-founded an International Registry of World Citizens and registered 750,000 people, and indeed declared in 1953 a government of, by and for the peoples.

Its administrative agency, the World Service Authority (WSA), had offices in Basel, Switzerland, Tokyo, Japan, Shanghai, China and now in Washington DC where it will continue issuing World Passports, visas, marriage licenses, birth certificates & other documents based on the mandate of the UDHR. These documents enable thousands of refugees and war victims to regain their identity and, for many, their freedom. Davis also created in 1996 the World Citizen Foundation, which his son Troy runs today.

Throughout the years Davis has presented passports to many world leaders. Receiving his, Prime Minister Nehru called it: “the passport Gandhi would have carried”. Davis travelled extensively with his World Passport, promoting world citizenship and human rights. His latest work was to establish a World Court of Human Rights (WCHR). He intended to launch the Court at the Universal Rights Festival in Los Angeles, on December 10, 2013, the 65th anniversary of the UHDR. The event, featuring major bands and entertainment, is now a memorial rally for citizens from around the world to celebrate Garry Davis’ life and mobilize to fulfill the promise of human rights for all. Davis is the subject of a forthcoming documentary directed by Arthur Kanegis (www.MyCountryIsTheWorld.com) E-mail: futurewavefilms@gmail.com