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Pacifist Columnist Colman McCarthy Dies at 87

3/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Colman McCarthy, a pacifist and Washington Post columnist, died February 27 at age 87 in La Romana, Dominican Republic from pneumonia complications.
He advocated nonviolence, opposed war, capital punishment, and meat consumption, and taught peace and justice.
He refused to stand for the national anthem, calling it a war hymn.
Joan Baez praised him as a force for good.
He rode a bicycle to work and preferred bananas to steak.

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Story summary

Colman McCarthy, a pacifist and Washington Post columnist, died February 27 at age 87 in La Romana, Dominican Republic from pneumonia complications.
He advocated nonviolence, opposed war, capital punishment, and meat consumption, and taught peace and justice.
He refused to stand for the national anthem, calling it a war hymn.
Joan Baez praised him as a force for good.
He rode a bicycle to work and preferred bananas to steak.