The human right to a peaceful and just existence remains one of the most sought after conditions, yet the most elusive for a large number of people. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in the conditions faced by Palestinians and Israelis as a result of the occupation.

It is a fact that peace finds its staunchest advocates during times of crisis. It is surprising the number of peace organizations and movements currently in existence in Israel/Palestine and the tireless and dedicated work of their members.

One such movement, Women in Black, saw its origins in Jerusalem in 1988 when a group of Israeli women, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim, took a stand in the midst of all the madness. Their position stemmed from a common desire that is often overlooked because of a condition that has dominated our species, greed in all its forms, economic, political, and ideological. The result of that greed has been injustice and violence.

Women, being the vehicle through which life is brought forth and being the primary caregivers of all humans, have been witnesses to different atrocities. They watched their Israeli children kill and be killed in the name of an ideology that is rooted in a belief system based on fear of annihilation, a fear born of past experiences of man's inhumanity to man. They watched their Arab children blow themselves and others up because they had lost life, land, home, dignity, and freedom without just recourse. And, as they watched, these women realized that the old ways of dealing with differences were taking their toll. Violence did not achieve compliance, retaliation did not put an end to violence, and vengeance did not cure a victim's grief. In fact, violence continued to perpetuate itself. Recipients of violent acts became victims and all perpetrators, no matter what their motive, became the victimizers.

Women in Black, Jerusalem, were mothers who had lost children on both sides of the conflict. They came together as sisters in silent witness to all the horrors perpetrated against all their children. They wore black as a symbol of mourning. In their weekly silent vigils that continued to this day, they found the strength to turn despair into action by making a stand for peaceful negotiation as the only option in conflict resolution. They took it upon themselves to educate their communities and the world about the injustices in their country. They advocated for the rights of oppressed and occupied people and campaigned and protested on behalf of displaced and terrorized civilians. They became an inspiration to women all over the world and the movement spread to different cities on all continents. Most Women in Black movements continue to advocate for the rights of Palestinians living under occupation. However, many also came about in protest of ethnic cleansing, racism, rape, and genocide in different areas in the world.

San Luis Obispo took the calling and held their first vigil in May 2002. Since then, other cities in SLO county have expressed a desire to spread the movement to their communities during this time of impending war and the process is beginning. Women in Black, SLO, hold vigils once a month and as the need arises. The movement stays true to the ideals of the originators. It recognizes the right of all people, in the Middle East and elsewhere, to live free from occupation, injustice, and war. The focus remains the Middle East because the conflict is ongoing and has reached catastrophic proportions. However, advocating for peaceful conflict resolution transcends all borders and all sides, with education as a focus.

Women in Black, SLO, is a movement of women, by women, for all people. Men are invited to join in the vigils. Men and Women can become true partners in peace if women's wishes also are respected and if women take on more leadership roles in national and international arenas, especially in local government, the United Nations, and the Security Council. Just peace cannot be achieved if we ignore the insight of 50% of our humanity.

Marilyn Farhat
17 March, 2003
Information Press, April 2003