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CSD Urgent Action: join "Women in Black" vigils June 8

For about 13 years, Israeli women have held a one-hour silent vigil at lunch-time every Friday in Jerusalem.  Over the years, their vigils have been simple, quiet and focused.  Their basic sign simply reads, "End the Occupation."  When they began, they insistently broke a taboo by using the word "Occupation" in Hebrew, in public.  Their numbers have fluctuated, from times when there were WIB vigils in many places around Israel, to Fridays in the Oslo years when only a few women persisted at their original site, Paris Square.

Christian Peacemaker Teams delegations have often stood with Women In Black.   We have worked closely over the years with Bat Shalom ("Daughters of Peace"), the Israeli women's peace group that has been the mainstay of these vigils in Jerusalem.   These women have been some of the most courageous and frequent Israeli visitors to our Palestinian partner families, working to end home demolitions and helping with rebuilding efforts.  The Women In Black have welcomed men to stand with them, and have used a few other signs over the years: I recall seeing "Demolishing Homes = Demolishing Peace" and "No to Settlements, No to Occupation."

They now call for Women in Black vigils around the world for June 8.  Below is the most recent notice I received.  I encourage ALL Campaign for Secure Dwellings partners to join in this.  If there is one near you, join in.  If not, make your own.

Guidelines:

  1. Women should lead in the planning, the public announcements, the quotes in press releases, and speaking to the media.
  2. All should dress mostly in black if possible.  Plan to stand quietly for an hour at a public intersection with lunch hour traffic.
  3. Organizers should make and bring a quantity of simple posters and banners, so that those who join can show up at the time and hold one.  Signs in North America might need a bit more detail to be understood: "ISRAEL: END THE MILITARY OCCUPATION" or "REMOVE THE SETTLEMENTS, END THE MILITARY OCCUPATION".  In the US, I think it would be appropriate to include signs about US aid: "AID TO ISRAEL IS PAYING FOR WAR" OR "NO US TAX $ FOR ISRAELI OCCUPATION." Or, stick with "END THE OCCUPATION" and expect people to ask questions?
  4. Please let me know about planned vigils, so that we can let the Coalition of Women for a Just Peace know about your support.  Send me AND YOUR LEGISLATORS clippings of press coverage, or send me a copy of your press release and photos.
Rich Meyer
Campaign for Secure Dwellings
13416 CR 44
Millersburg IN 46543 USA
Phone/Fax 219-642-3920
cptcsd@npcc.net

The Campaign for Secure Dwellings is a network of congregations in North America working to end the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  Christian Peacemaker Teams coordinates the Campaign for Secure Dwellings in cooperation with the Palestinian Land Defense Committee, Rabbis for Human Rights, and the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions.  Christian Peacemaker Teams is a ministry of active peacemaking sponsored by Mennonites, Brethren and Friends Meetings.

The commitment of a CSD partner includes "– plan a public forum, action, vigil or witness at least once each year, sending photos, reports, press releases, newspaper clippings etc. to CPT. "

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On June 8th, in 75 cities and towns around the world, a call by peace activists to  END THE OCCUPATION will be heard.

There are currently Women in Black vigils scheduled in:

Adelaide Australia, Ankara Turkey, Barcelona Spain, Bern Switzerland, Brest France, Brussels Belgium, Copenhagen Denmark, Derry Northern Ireland, The Hague Netherlands, Halifax Canada, Hofgeismar Germany, London England, Madrid Spain, Maldive Islands, Melbourne Australia, Mexico City Mexico, Milano Italy, Roma Italy, Napoli, Italy, Florence Italy, Alba Italy, Schio Italy, Padova Italy, Verona Italy, Udine Italy, Como Italy, Piacenza Italy, Montreal Canada, Paris France, Rennes France, Seville Spain, Stockholm Sweden, Toronto Canada, Uppsala Sweden, Valencia Spain, Vancouver BC Canada, Vienna Austria, Zurich Switzerland, Abilene TX, Albuquerque NM, Ann Arbor MI, Ashland OR, Atlanta GA, Boston MA, Cambridge MA, Chicago IL, Denver CO, Gainesville FL, Hartford CT, Houston TX, Ithaca NY, Jefferson City MO, Kansas City MO, Lake Junaluska NC, Los Angeles CA, Madison WI, Milwaukee WI, Minneapolis MN, New Haven CT, New York City NY, Palo Alto CA, Petaluma CA, Philadelphia PA, Portland OR, Sacramento CA, San Francisco CA, San Jose CA, Santa Fe  NM, Seattle WA, Syracuse NY, Washington DC, Jerusalem Israel Rehovot Israel.

Coalition of Women for a Just Peace : Bat Shalom,  Women in Black,  New Profile,  TANDI,  WILPF,   Women and Mothers for Peace, Women Engendering Peace, "NOGA" (Venus -A Feminist Magazine)

34 Years of Occupation - ENOUGH  !!!

The generals leading the country drove us  to wars of all kinds:  … Wars against other countries in the region, and wars against the Palestinian people.  … War against the children  of the first Intifada, and the assassination of the leaders  of the second Intifada.  … "Surgical" air strikes and bombing of population centers.  … Roadblocks, closure, killing, house demolitions and uprooting of orchards and olive groves And this is how they want to achieve peace in the region??

THE AGE OF GENERALS IS OVER !! - ENOUGH OF THE REIGN OF FORCE !!! IT'S TIME FOR WOMEN TO LEAD THE WAY !!

The Coalition of Women for a Just Peace proposes the only right approach toward resolving the conflict in our region: Solving problems with wisdom and understanding, not by force; A solution based on the principles of  justice, equality and peace through dialogue, compromise and empathy for the needs of both peoples. Thus, the CWFJP is holding an international day of opposition to the occupation:

Immediate Withdrawal from the Occupied Territories To the '67 borders !!! CWFJP calls for an immediate international intervention that will put an end to the killings and injuring of Palestinians who struggle for their independence.

This day will be marked by more than 80 simultaneous protests by Women in Black and their supporters, at locations around the world.

The demonstration will begin with an all-night protest vigil on Thursday night,  7 June 2001, and continue throughout the morning of Friday, 8 June 2001. The demonstration will close with a mass protest by Women in Black at 12:00 -14:00 p.m. at Hagar Square (Paris Square) in Jerusalem.

For more information call:
Tel-Aviv - Debby Lerman 051-292373,
North - Yudit Zeidenberg 052-353324

The Coalition of Women for a Just Peace demands from the Israeli government: