Newton B. Jones, International President
The Irish Peace Foundation’s World Peace Prize announced that International President Newton B. Jones will be recognized as “Roving Ambassador for Peace.”
The announcement was made by Father Sean McManus, Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize and President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus and Irish Peace Foundation, Washington, D.C. The World Peace Prize is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.
“We were pleased to propose President Jones for the World Peace Prize as Roving Ambassador for Peace, because for 50 years as a Boilermaker, he has shown outstanding dedication to justice and total solidarity with working men and women—both on a local, national and global level,” said Fr. McManus.
Upon learning of the honor, IP Newton Jones said:
“The history of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers has deep ties to the history of Irish America, beginning with our earliest days in railroad work and steam locomotives in 1880. For over 140 years, the Boilermakers union has been proud to call many Irish Americans brothers and sisters in our union—brothers and sisters who are now maintaining America’s most critical infrastructure components and ensuring that our great nation works. I am humbled and honored to be recognized as Roving Ambassador for Peace.”
IP Jones will be presented with the award in a special ceremony at a date yet to be announced.
“I was delighted that our panel of International and Inter-Faith judges representing all nine major world religious groups agreed [to select IP Jones],” said Fr. McManus. “I strongly believe that the labor movement should be recognized as powerfully contributing to world peace based on solidarity, equality and justice. And I know the late, great President Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO, most certainly agreed, and he was very pleased we have connected labor’s ‘fight for social justice’ with the building of peace nationally and globally.”
Fr. McManus stated that President Trumka helped to launch the World Peace Prize within the AFL-CIO by being the first laureate of the prize in February 2016. More information about the World Peace Prize can be found at worldpeaceprizewashington.org.
