Alliance for Conscientious Objectors Records

The Alliance for Conscientious Objectors (AFCO), based in Seattle (Washington), was known initially as Conscientious Objectors for Service Benefits (COSB). It was founded in 1970 by John Long and Paul Anderson, who served as its national coordinator. It changed its name in 1972 to represent a wider scope of purpose. During this time, conscientious objectors who performed two years of alternate service, the same period as those drafted into the military served, were not entitled to Veterans Administration benefits under the GI Bill of Rights. The COSB/AFCO worked to raise public awareness of this injustice, and sought redress through legal cases in the federal court system. On December 11, 1973, the Justices of the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two suits challenging the constitutionality of discrimination against veterans of alternate service. In its February 1974 newsletter, the group announced its decision to disband and "pass its torch to the two professional organizations in the country, National Interreligious Board for Conscientious Objectors (NISBCO) and the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors (CCCO)." It was felt that as a volunteer, nonprofit group, AFCO had reached a "plateau of achievement." It contributed its remaining funds to NISBCO and CCCO; its last corespondence is from March 1974.