
|

|
Women
in Black vigil in support of boycott of Israeli Philharmonic, January,
2007
|
|

|
| Women
in Black at rallies against Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Gaza, July
2006 |
Women in Black
Women
in Black started in 1988 in Jerusalem, when a group of Jewish Israeli
and Palestinian women joined together and began holding weekly silent
vigils for peace. Since then, Women In Black in Israel has held weekly
vigils in major Israeli cities to protest the illegal Israeli
occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. They have
demonstrated by their presence that Jewish Israelis and Palestinian
Arabs can work together, and that while the men at the negotiating
tables and in the halls of power seem intent on prolonging the
conflict, women -- always the greatest victims in war -- are intent on
making peace.
In
2001, Women in Black in Israel and Serbia were nominated for the Nobel
Peace prize.
Women
in Black--Los Angeles
Women
in Black-Los Angeles has been active since 2001. WIB-LA maintains an
active e-mail list that distributes news and critical perspectives on
conditions and events in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Since our
first vigil in front of the Federal Building in early 2001, we have
held numerous candlelight vigils calling for an end to the occupation,
providing important opportunities to distribute thousands of pieces of
literature and talk with hundreds of people. In addition, we've
sponsored or co-sponsored numerous educational events about the Israeli
occupation and the role of the US government in supporting it.
Starting
in 2003, WIB-LA started working closely with members of the Palestine Aid Society. WIB and PAS
have joined together to make a clear statement: "Jews and Arabs United
for a Just Middle East Peace," and have come together to form a joint
contingent at marches and rallies to protest the U.S. war of aggression
against Iraq. Click here to read the WIB/PAS brochure, "Facts
on the Occupation and Nonviolent Resistance".

Women
in Black/Palestine Aid Society banner at anti-Iraq war demonstration,
March 2003.
© Mark Kaswan (2003)
Women
in Black--Los Angeles Mission Statement
The mission of Women in Black- Los
Angeles is to work for a just and peaceful
resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We advocate an
immediate end to the U.S.-supported Israeli
Occupation,
the right of Palestinian refugees to return, and full and equal rights
for all
people who live in the region.
We work to accomplish these goals
through public education
and advocacy.