peace letter -- fall 2013 commemorative 50th anniversary issue

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50 Years of Advancing Peace and Justice

Special Commemorative Anniversary Edition

The Peace LetterWashington Peace Center

Founded in 1963Fall 2013 Vol. 50

Inside!• WPC History: 1963-2013• Photo Collage: WPC Over the Decades• The Purpose of Protest• Reflections After Decades of Activism• The Next 50 Years - Building a New World....AND MORE!

Pages 4-18

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The Peace LetterWashington Peace Center

Founded in 1963Fall 2013 Vol. 50

CELEBRATING 5 0 Y E A R S!

For me, the fiftieth anniversary of the PeaceCenterhas twomeanings. Onone level, realizing that Ihavebeen associatedwith theCenter for 30ofmy51yearsmakesmefeelmuchlikeIdidwhenIreceivedmyfirst solicitation fromAARP last year:How can I be soold?Onanother,itremindsmethat I made a commitment tothe Center from which I havederivedagreatdealof satisfac-tion. In the autumn of 1983 Iclimbed up the narrow stairsto the attic offices the Cen-ter then had in the FriendsMeeting of Washington, and

in my heart I have never come back down. It hasbeen my honor to serve the Center as a volunteer,staff person, board member, and financial supporter. My involvement with the Peace Center hasshaped the focusofmy researchas ahistorian.When Idelvedintotherecordsoftheorganizationsthatpreced-edtheCenter’s founding, Idiscoveredan inspiringstoryofdedicationandaction. FromJuly1,1959untilMarch30,1961,anetworkofpeaceactivistsmaintainedavigilagainstpreparationforbiologicalwarfareoutsidethemaingateoftheUSArmy'sFortDetrickinFrederick,Maryland.Larry Scott, who coordinatedTheVigilTo Stop Biologi-calWeaponsatFortDetrick,wasavisionarynonviolentactivistwhoapplied the lessonsofGandhi’s struggle forIndianindependencetopoliticsintheUSAttheoutsetoftheVigil,StewartMeachem,thenpeacesecretaryofthe

The following is the transcript of a speech that was given by WPC board member, Vasudha Desikan, at our 50th Anniversary party in May.

This past weekend, I was obsessively watching“FridayNight Lights” onNetflix. For those of youwhodon’t know, the show is about this Texas high-schoolfootball teamthat isdownandout,until thispassionatebut straight talkin’ coachwith a vision instills themwithhopeanddiscipline,andtheyendupgoingtotheStatechampionships. I won’t give anymore spoilers, promise.

Now if you’re a radical leftist and don’twatchthisshow,youneedtogetonit,especiallyforthoseofyouwho,likeme,sufferfromM.A.D.,akaMovementAffective

Disorder. This is when youare drowning in sadness andfutility because you’ve beenthrough some magnificent,transformative moments butthentheyendandyouhaven’ttoppledcapitalismandempire.Other symptoms include adisposition to short-termism,lackofcreativity,andunwilling-nesstobelievethatrevolutionarychangeispossible.EverysingleactivistIknowgoesthroughthisbutattheendoftheday,wealwaysdustoffourshoul-dersandgetbacktoitbecauseourworkisneverdone.

And thankfully, we have so many amazing his-toricalexamples to learn fromandsupportiveorganiza-tions, like theWashingtonPeaceCenter, toboostusup.

The Purpose of Protest

The Next 50 Years: Building a New World

continued on page 22

By David Hostetter

continued on page 20

By Vasudha Desikan

50 Years of Working

Towards Peace & Justice!

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WPC History 1963-2013

1

Reflections andLessons

page 3, 22-27

Activists Reflect on 50 Years

Above: Elise Fisher (background) and comrade hard at work at the Peace Center offices at the Friends Meeting House of Washington in 1983. Below: Interns Sydney Browning & Carmen Mason with Lee Winnike at a march against drones at the 2013 presidential inauguration.

Justice

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50 Years of Working

Towards Peace & Justice!

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Editor: Dany SigwaltInterns: Paige MacNamara, Katerina Downward,

Ryn Seidewitz & Jenn ArensLayout/Illustration: Erin Burns

Our Mission

The Washington Peace Center provides education, resources and action for those working for positive social change and a world free from oppression. We strengthen the impact of the peace and justice movements by:

1) Fostering greater collaboration among activist groups

2) Bridging the gap between global, national & local issues and communities, and

3) Providing the material support to achieve these goals.

Based in Washington, DC, we have been working to achieve peace and social justice since 1963. We envision a world based on respect for people and the planet that is achieved through nonviolence, peace and social justice.

The Peace LetterThe Washington Peace Letter is published biannually to support local, national and international struggles against oppression. It seeks to present analysis of current events, covering information not available in corporate media.

Peace Letter items are copyright-free and may be reproduced. Please give us credit and send us a copy if you do use the Peace Letter!

Submissions: The Peace Letter welcomes submissions of articles, announcements, letters to the editor and artwork from the progressive community. Contact us at [email protected]

Coordinating Board Members: Pedro Cruz, Vasudha Desikan, Robby Diesu, Ese Emerhi, Philip Fornaci, Jay Forth, Katherine Fuchs, Samantha Miller, David Thurston, & Marie Soveroski

Staff: Sonia Silbert, Director; Dany Sigwalt, Program Manager; Helga Herz, Peacemaker; & Candice Jones, Administrator

Washington Peace Center1525 Newton St NW

Washington, D.C. 20010Phone: (202) 234-2000

[email protected]

Photos from our 50th Anniversay Party!

Fifty years. It’s hard to believe that this onesmallorganizationhasbeenactivelyworkingforpeaceandjusticeforfiftyyearsandhasplayedsuchapivotalroleinsomanypeople’slives.It’sbeenawonderful,funandhumblingyearofcelebration,reflectionandvisioningforthefuture. AswelookbackonthePeaceCenter’shistory,wedeepenourperspectiveonhowtobuildourmovementsforthefuture.Reflectingonthepast-wherewe’vebeen,whatwewon,whereourstrugglesarestillthesame–isanimportantpartofenvisioninghowwe’llmakechangeinthenextfiftyyears. Withthatinmind,thisspecialeditionofthePeaceLetter features highlights from our history – from beingraidedbytheFBIinthe1970’stoundergoinganextensiveanti-oppressionprocess inthe1990’s–andbringshistoryto lifethroughthevoicesofthepeoplewholived it. Wehad thehonorof conductinganoralhistoryprojectwithsomekeyPeaceCenterpeople, andwepulledoutwon-derfulanecdotes,memoriesandwordsofwisdomthataredistributedthroughoutthisnewspaper. Pleasesupportusthisyear,throughmoney,energyandadvice,andhelpsetusupforfiftymoreyears.We’velaunchedaplannedgivingcampaign,whereyoucanmentionusinyourwillandensurethatthestruggleforjusticewillliveonbeyondanyofus.Andwe’llbeundergoingastrategicplanningprocessin2014,settinggoalsfortheyearstocome.We’vecomesofarandthere’ssomuchfurthertogo. ThePeaceCenterhassurvivedandthrivedbecauseofthesupportandloveofallofyou.ThankyouforyourdedicationoverfivedecadesandthankyouforsupportingthePeaceCenterasweembarkonthenexthalfcenturyofbuildingpeacethroughjustice.

Happy Birthday, WPC!

InSolidarity,

From the Director:

WASHINGTON PEACE CENTER

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INTRODUCTIONORAL HISTORY PROJECT:

By Jenn Arens

This summer at the Peace Center wasmarkedbyaspecialefforttoexploreourfiftyyearsofexistencethroughoralhistory. Wesatdownforpersonal interviews with twenty-two individualsinvolvedwiththePeaceCenterovertheyears(somewho volunteered to interview at our anniversaryparty, and others who were recommended to us).Thesepeoplesharedwithusnotonlytheiramazingmemories of the Peace Center, but also theirreflectionsonlifetimesofwork,learning,andactivism. ThesefolkshavecontinuedthePeaceCenterspirit down very different paths: raising the nextgeneration of conscious citizens; organizing someof themost influentialdemonstrations in recentUShistory; publishing and teaching progressivematerial

to theyoungandold;working toprotect therightsof dissenters; organizing public vigils in politicallyconservative communities; empowering progressivenonprofits;counteringUSmilitarism;deliveringmuchneeded services and resources to our society’smarginalizedpopulations;andmuchmore. Recorded inboth video and audio formats,theseinterviewshavebeenanincrediblecontributiontothearchiveofPeaceCenterhistory,andtoabroadervisionofpeaceand justice. Wesentthetranscriptsof these interviews to be housed at SwarthmoreCollege's Peace Collection, to ensure thatWPC'srole in thenationalpeaceand justicemovements ispreserved. Aswecollectedthesestories,manydifferentrecurringthemesbegantotakeshape--youwillfindseveraloftheminthisPeaceLetter,accompaniedby

excerptsfromtheinterviews.Thesethemesspeaktothechallengesand joysofactivism, thecomplexitiesoftheongoingstruggle,thevastdifferencesinwherewecomefrom,thesharedgoalsofwherewewantto be, and, of course, how these elements haveflowed through the channels of one small office inWashington,DC. It has truly been a privilege to hear thesestories--theywill,withoutdoubt,enrichthefutureofouractivismasmuchastheyhavethepast.

Jenn Arens is a Master's degree candidate in Sociology at George Washington University and conducted oral histories for Washington Peace Center during the summer of 2013

Amy Markowitz,volunteer,Pledger/CentralAmericaSolidarity,1980's Ann Wilcox,legalcounsel,1980's-presentB Wardlaw,majordonor,andformerAdvisoryCouncilmemberBecky Otter Williams,boardmember,1970's-1991 DavId Hostettervolunteer,1983-1985,staff1985-1988,boardmember,late19980's-1990'sDoug Fishman,volunteer,LatinAmericanSolidarity/Pledger,late1990'sGeoff Millard,donor,AdvisoryCouncilmember Jane Midgely,stafflate1970's-early1980'sJane Zara,volunteer,1980's-2000's,boardmember,2006-2012Janet Heisse, boardmember,WPCNonviolenceCoordinatingCommittee,1980-mid1990sJ.E. McNeil,boardmember,1980's-1990's,legalcounsel

Joanne HeiselPledger/CentralAmericaSolidarity1980's-early1990s John Steinbach,volunteersince1981,boardmember2001-2003Kit Gage,donor,volunteermid1970'sandlate1980's-early2000's Laura Worby,boardmember,late1980's,AdvisoryCouncilmember Lisa Fithian,staff,1987-1995,AdvisoryCouncilmemberMark Andersen,staff,1988-1989,boardmember,2004-2008Michael Levi,NonviolenceCollective1980s-1990s,boardmember1986-1992Paul Magno, staff2005-2006,boardmember,2006-2012Paul Ruther,Pledger/CentralAmericaSolidarityvolunteer,1980's-1990'sSara Mahy,Pledger/CentralAmericaSolidarity,volunteer,1980'sSteve Metalitz,intern,1966

Special thanks to everyone who we interviewed over the summer. Throughout this issue of the Peace Letter, you'll find excerpts from interviews with these members of

the Peace Center family.

We'd also like to send thanks to all of the volunteers who made this oral history project possible (in no particular order): Beth Geglia, Maggie Holden, Cindy Choung, and Whitney Skippings.

1959-1961:The Vigil at Fort Detrick

Vigil demands included “An announcement to the world that the United States is withdraw-ing from biological warfare preparations; and Promotion through the United Nations of a constructive program of health, food produc-tion and technical assistance."

The Vigil at Fort Detrick started in 1959 as a five day-long twenty-four hour demonstration against biological warfare research. Successful outreach and community education persuaded the organizers to extend their silent vigil outside of the military base for twenty-one months. From July 1, 1959 to March 30, 1961 over 1600 participants from thirty-five states and four foreign countries participated in the vigil.

During this period, halting preparations for biological warfare appeared to be a more achievable objective than ending the entire Cold War. It also was a unique opportunity to connect the efforts of secular peace activists with those of Christian pacifists. The vision that vigil coordinator Larry Scott brought to the campaign targeted the cessation of biological warfare as a winnable objective that could initiate a change in public opinion.

After their tenure at Fort Detrick, Larry Scott and a group of activist supporters moved to the nation’s capital in order to expand their work and educate the public through film screenings, discussions, and the publication of a local newspaper. In 1963, the group acquired office space at the Friends Meeting of Washington and the Washington Peace Center as it is known today was formed.

Washington Peace Center History

“We will maintain an attitude of goodwill and nonviolence especially in the face of provocation by others.”-Vigil Guidelines

1963: The Peace Center’s Beginnings

For many, 1963 was busting at the seams with possibility. The post-war economy was still thriving. ten years after the Brown vs. the Board of Ed decision, lunch table sit-ins were erupting across the south, and integrationists were gaining mainstream visibility.

Meanwhile, the Cold War was escalating. Just months before, the Cuban Missile Crisis threatened to disintegrate most of the East Coast. In the war against communism, the conflict between North and South Vietnam was suddenly becoming a matter of US policy.

In addition to the founding of the Washington Peace Center, 1963 marked the founding of many other social justice organizations still around today, including the Institute for Policy Studies and Bread and Puppet Theater.

It was in this tenuous moment, in this space between great possibility and literal annihilation, that the Washington Peace Center came to be. Fort Detrick Vigil organizer Larry Scott envisioned combining Quaker pacifist beliefs with Ghandian nonviolence. It was out of this vision for a better world that the Peace Center was born.

In August of 1963, the Great March on Washing-ton attracted 200,000 to join the struggle for racial justice.

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“[Fort Detrick Vigil leader Larry] Scott’s unique interpretation and application of Gandhian nonviolence for social change specific to the American context animated the Washington Peace Action Center.” - David Hostetter, “Washington Peace Letter"

The Peace Center has provided on-the-ground support for innumerable marches, protests, demonstrations and actions over the past fity years. A noteworthy example of one of the first, and most influential, of these demonstrations was the First National March Against the War in Vietnam in 1965, organized by SDS. The March assembled 20,000 people and marked the beginning of SDS’s exponential growth.

Clippings from the Washington Peace Center’s then weekly Washington Peace Letter reads: “The April 17th March on Washington to End the War in Vietnam was supported by a loan of furnishings to March headquarters. In addition, the Center acted as an information center for the March, remaining open all day Saturday. WPC also helped arrange housing and provided an emergency stand-by auto during the Saturday activity.”

WPC provided crucial help to Students for a Democratic Society during The National March Against the War in Vietnam.

Above: Report back from an early Peace Letter about WPC involvement with SDS

Below: WPC continued to work with SDS and other students throughout the Vietnam era and beyond the April 1965 march.

1965: Students for a Democratic Society March

1963-1973: ResistingVietnam: Draft Counseling

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At the height of the Vietnam War, the Washington Peace Center was the place to go in DC for Draft Counseling. Whether it was navigating the draft classifications or registering as a conscientious objector, the Peace Center worked hard to make sure that young men’s lives wouldn’t be ruined at the hand of an imperialist government and ideological war.

The Peace Center also undertook educational outreach, informing would-be soldiers of their options to avoid the draft. A large piece of this project involved youth-specific outreach campaigns, like handing out brochures and providing draft counseling and support to high school students.

In the District, the most active and respectable draft counseling is offered by the Washington Peace Center

- from the 9/18/1963 Washington Evening Star

This handmade “Untangling Vietnam: Materials for Boys and Girls” is an example of the youth focused outreach that the Peace Center did to educate youth before the possibility of being drafted was even an option.

The Peace Center continued counter-recruitment counseling well into the 1980's. The bus advertisement above is from 1981

advertising the Peace Center's pre-enlistment and draft counseling services.

"Draftcounselingsessionsweregoingon,andIwaslistening,andtryingtolearn-Iwasexposedbothtothewholeapparatusofthedraft,butalsotopeoplewhowerereallystrugglingwiththeirviewsaboutwarandpeaceandweretheyconscientiousobjectors,andhowdidtheydefinethat,andhowdidthatfitintotheirbeliefsystem?SoIkindofgotaglimpseintoallthis."-SteveMetalitz,Oral History Interview

"[WhenworkingatthePeaceCenter]Iendedupfocusingalotonyoungpeopleandhowtheywerebeingaffectedbymilitarism…HavinggrownupgoingtotheDCpublicschools,wewerestruckbyhowtheyhadturnedthecounselingcentersintorecruitmentcenters.Youwouldwalkintosomeofthesecounselingofficesandallyouwouldseewasmilitaryrecruitmentposters.Therewasaparticularemphasisonyoungpeopleofcolorwhodidn’thavealotofotheralternatives."-JaneMidgely,Oral History Interview

"[Duringthetrial]Iwasworkingeightyhoursaweek,andourofficekeptgettingburglarized[bylawenforcement].Alltheywouldstealwouldbethetaperecordermachine.I’dcomeintheoffice,burglarizedagain.I’drundowntoRadioShack,buythenewtaperecorderandgodothedeposition."-J.E.McNeil

1965-1986: WPC vs. COINTELPRO

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From the late 1960’s through 1975, the Washington Peace Center was the focus of significant FBI surveillance. Counseling young draftees, promoting war-tax resistance, and organizing other forms of dissent against the war in Vietnam landed the Peace Center in the FBI’s purview.

In 1973, the Peace Center’s office and the Friends Meeting House, where the Center was housed, were broken into. Valuables left out on the counters were left untouched, but files disappeared and it was immediately evident to many that the government had raided the office.

In 1981, the Washington Peace Center, along with a few other individuals and organizations filed a suit, with the case focusing on the FBI’s notorious counterintelligence program, COINTELPRO, and charged that the local Metropolitan Police Department dispatched informants to collect information on peace and civil rights activists to silence dissent.

This lawsuit was the first of its kind, where a group of activists came together to challenge the government's suppression of dissent and won.

There were several articles published in the Washington Post in the mid-80’s about the lawsuit against the FBI, which was the first successful suit of its kind.

This report back from a draft discussion is one of the many documents found in the FBI records on the Peace Center. The FBI collected details about WPC events and actions, visitors to the Center, and issues written about in the Washington Peace Center Newsletter.

“The court found that five former FBI agents worked to ‘expose, disrupt, or otherwise neutralize’ anti-war and

civil rights activists”- Washington Post, “$51,000 Awarded in FBI

Spying” October 23, 1986

"WewereputtinginFreedomofInformationActrequeststotryandfigureouthowmuchtheFBIhadinfiltrateddifferentmeet-ingsandhowmuchtheyhadondifferentpeople.Therewasalotofsurveillancegoingon.Someofthepeoplewewereworkingwithinthemilitarydiedinverystrangecircumstances.Youstartedtogetthiswholeotherlayerthatwasextremelydisturbingandscary."-JaneMidgely

Above: WPC coordinated over 1500 DC area activists to join the 1982 Rally and March for Peace and Disarmament in New York. Left: Early Washington Peace Action Group graphic from outreach materials used to recruit people to fight against the US-USSR arms race.

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1963-on: No More Nukes!

Founded at the height of the Cold War, the Peace Center was central to many anti-nuke efforts in the DC area. The very first event organized by the Washington Peace Center was to welcome a delegation of Japanese A-Bomb survivors to DC in 1963.

On June 12th, 1982, in anticipation of a bilateral (US & USSR) nuclear freeze referendum at the United Nations, WPC coordinated 28 buses carrying over 1500 DC activists to join a demonstration in Central Park against nuclear weapons. Over one million people were present that day, making this the largest single demonstration in US history.

In 1985, the WPC staff helped organize The Ribbon: 25,000 panels of fabric art expressing love of creation and abhorrence of nuclear war. Activists worked together to tie the ribbon around the Pentagon and the Capitol in commemoration of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

WPC also worked with the local nuclear freeze campaign to pass a referendum in DC supporting a halt to the US-USSR arms race.

"Soforthefirsttimewemadetheconnectionbetweennuclearpower,nuclearweapons,NativeAmericantreatyrights,andthenjobsandjustice.Wemadethoseconnections--wetalkedaboutthem,wetalkedaboutthisasbeingthedeadlyconnection,thedeadlyconnectionbetweenmoneyspentonnuclearweaponsandonmilitaryintervention--thatwasmoneythatcouldnotbespentonhumanneeds.Andifyouweretalkingaboutintervention,thenanyoneofthevariousregionalwarscouldescalateintoanuclearwar."-JohnSteinbach

"ThevisionoriginallywastogoaroundtheCapitolbuilding,butThe RibbonactuallyendedupbeingsolongthatitwentaroundtheCapitolbuilding,downaroundtheWhiteHouse,acrossthebridgeandthenbackagain."-J.E.McNeil

"Thesummerof1985wespentorganizingforThe Ribbon, whichwasademonstrationwherepeoplemadeayardlongpatchofribbonthatcouldbetiedtootherpeople’spiecesthatwassupposedtodepictwhattheywouldleastliketoloseinanuclearwar.AndJustineMerit,whoiniti-atedtheidea,shewasaneedlepointperson,sosheputthenamesofallherfriendsandfamilymembersinthisbeauti-fulpiece.Thatwasthefirstpieceoftheribbon,andthenitinspiredpeopleallovertheworldtoparticipateinthisfolk-artdemonstrationoftheirconcern."-DavidHostetter

"Theobjectiveswereoftenmoreclearthantheultimategoals.Raisearuckus,getsomeattention,tryinnovativeandcreativewaystogalvanizemediainsupport.Butthegoalsoftenvaried."- AmyMarkowitz

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Mid-1980s: US Solidarity with Latin America

In the 1980’s the Washington Peace Center served as a hub for local organizing against the US war in Central America. With the success of the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua and growing liberation movements across the region, Ronald Reagan began a counter-insurgency war supporting the brutal Contras in Nicaragua and the death squads in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. People across the United States said “No más, no more."

The Peace Center housed a strong regional coalition and was a key player in the April 25, 1987 Mobilization for Justice & Peace in Central America and Southern Africa, which brought 80,000 demonstrators to march against the war, followed by the largest action in history against the CIA, where almost 600 protesters, including Dick Gregory, were arrested.

"ThemodelofmovementorganizingbackthenwasoneofthemosteffectivemodelsI’veeverseen,andIkeeptryingtopromoteit.Ithinkwekeepmissingtheelementsthatwereimportant.[Whenyou]wereatthenationallevelyouhadatablethathadalltheanti-interventiongroups,allthesolidaritygroups,youhadthepolicygroups,youhadthelaborgroups.Andtheywouldallcomeupwithastrategy,allofthemboughtintothecampaignknownasthePledgeofResistanceandtheypromoteditouttotheirbase.Theyweren’tafraid,sopeopleatthegrassrootslevelcouldorganizeasindividualsbutfitintoanetworkthatwasconnectedtothislargerstrategy,sotherewasalotoftrust.Then,thisnetworkcouldbuildonitsownstructureforcreativeactions."-LisaFithian

Above: Undeterred by the inclement weather, demonstra-tors protest at a Feb-ruary 1988 action. Photo credit: Rick Reinhard Left: WPC helped organize a weekly demonstra-tion in Woodley Park. Pictured, “Nancy

[Reagan]s against Contras.”

The Pledge of Re-sistance against US intervention in Central America il-lustrated individu-als’ commitment to do civil disobedi-ence in the face of

future US involve-ment.

1987-1990s: Anti-Oppression: Redefining Peace

During the 1980’s and ‘90s, the Peace Center underwent a major shift in the way that the organization defined and approached peace. This shift was motivated by an understanding that global peace could not be achieved if we allowed systems of oppression to continue shaping our local communities. In this process, the WPC refocused its work to support local movements for justice alongside international struggles for peace.

This development overlapped with the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, during which the Peace Center worked with American Indian activists and allies to raise awareness, promoting a speakers bureau and producing many articles in the Peace Letter.

In this era, WPC began the work it continues to do today: supporting movements related to prisons, healthcare, domestic violence, and LGBT rights, all while drawing connections between anti-war struggles and local social justice work.

This graphic from a 1990s Peace Letter reflects a shift in messaging and presentation during

this period.

WPC produced a handful of brochures in 1992, connecting local struggles for justice around pris-on, health care, and homelessness to what had previously been understood as “peace” work.

"ItwasatimewhenDCwasthenation’smurdercapital.Alotofyoungblackmenwerebeingkilled,whichisalwaysaresultofracism.Wewerealsoanorganizationthatwasmadeupprimarilyofwhitepeopleinacitythatwasmajoritypeopleofcolor…Webegantodevelopsomenewprogramareas,butalsobegantojustbemoreconsciousofthecitywewerelivingin,inawholenewway."-LisaFithian

“Only when the principles of social justice, cooperation, cultural diversity and political

empowerment are incorporated into the meaning of peace will efforts to end war, militarism, and injustice succeed in bringing about a just, nonviolent society."

-“Redefining Peace” Brochure, 1992

"TheroleofthePeaceCenteristorecognizethislegacyofviolencethatnotonlyourcultureisrootedin,butweareexportingthatviolence,fuelingit,andnowitscominghome.It’saviciouscycle,andthePeaceCenterwentthroughaperiodofreallytryingtoredefinepeaceandtorecognizethatsexism,andhomophobiaandracism--theyareallformsofviolence."-JaneZara

As early as 1979, adverts appeared in the Peace Center Newsletter calling for attendees to the historical first March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights. In spite of tension in other activist circles, the Peace Center welcomed openly gay staff and volunteers. Locally, the Peace Center supported annual ‘Walk Without Fear’ marches, protesting gay bashing and hate crimes within the District.

The Peace Center provided peacekeepers for the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights eight years later, as well as organizational support of a weekend of related events. Peace Center staff members were also involved in early gay marriage activism including organizing “The Wedding,” an early protest at the Department of Justice calling for marriage equality.

By the time of the third nationwide march in 1993, now calling for Gay, Lesbian and Bi “Equal Rights and Liberation,” the Peace Center was combining anti-racist training with support for gay and lesbian communities and providing avenues for discussing the intersection between racism and heterosexism. By the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the Peace Center was also coming to grips with the AIDS crisis. In addition to supporting local direct action again the Reagan administration’s AIDS policy, the Peace Center also provided support for historic national events such as the AIDS quilt and numerous marches. The Peace Center was an island in a sea of anti-gay hostility and AIDS-related discrimination, on the Right as well as the Left.

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1979 - on: GLBTQ Rights

"Withnosolution,HIVdiagnosisinthosedayswasan18month/2yeardeathsentence,andthatwasareallysoberingpartofitforthoseofuswhoweretryingtounderstandsocialjusticeinaglobalandlocalcontext,becausewewereop-posingwarsabroadbuttherewasawarathomethatwastakingvictimsthatwecouldsee."-DavidHostetter

"WehelpedtopassintheDCCityCouncilanamendmenttotheHumanRightsActtomakeitillegaltodiscriminateincustodycasesaroundsexuality.Whichwasprettycoolin1974!’74,therewerepeopleworkinghardonthoseissues,soit’sfuntoremember-that’snotalongperiodoftime,butthat’snotyes-terday."-KitGage

"IcanrememberoneofthefirstAIDSmarches…beingapeacekeeper,atthefrontoftheline…andIfeltlikeIwasatadeathmarch.Becausepeopleweresosickinthosedays,itwasjust…Ihadtostopacoupleoftimesjusttosob.That’swhenthereweresomanyfewersurvivors,peoplewerecomingthenforthefirstnationalmarchseverelyillandhopeless"-JanetHeisse

From the late summer of 1990 through February of 1991, the Washington Peace Center was at the forefront of peace activism against the first invasion of Iraq in Operation Desert Storm.

During this time, WPC offered valuable coordinating support to the Washington Area Coalition to Stop the US Intervention in the Middle East, did massive outreach and organizing for the weekly vigil at the White House, hosted a live national radio teach-in about Operation Desert Storm, organized several actions, and supported the organizing of students across the Northeastern US.

Throughout all this, the Peace Center also held true to their budding anti-racist analysis, and took care to articulate this and work in solidarity with black communities’ efforts to highlight the racial inequalities in enlistment processes in the military.

Left: This comic, from a pamphlet called “Gulf War Economics Background,” was one of many educational tools that the Peace Center used in its educational programming. Right: Flyer for a WPC-supported March on Washington Against the First Gulf War. Below: During this time, WPC staff, volunteers, allies and community members were present at many of the demonstrations in DC to express dissent against

the war.

1990-1991: Operation Desert Storm

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"Ourpositionwas:sanctionsarethesameaswar.They’rekillingbabies.WecannotsupportthesesanctionswhicharetargetingcivilianpopulationinIraqinordertobringpressuretobearontheIraqigovernment.SowehadabigmeetingattheFriendsMeetingHouse,andwethrashedthisout…Ihavetosay,anumberofthewhitepeacegroupswalkedoutofthatmeetingbecausetheirstancewasgivesanctionsachance.But,WashingtonPeaceCenter,GreyPanthers,andothercommunitygroups,ourpositionwasclear :sanctionsarethesameaswar.SothiswasanotheroneofthePeaceCenter’sfinestmoments,takingastand,saying‘weareourowngroup.'"-JohnSteinbach

1.DemonstrationagainstthefirstinvasionofIraq.2.Post-IraqinvasiondemonstrationagainsttheBushAdminstration.3. LisaFithianandJoanneHeisselwearshirtsthatread"Contraceptivesnot

ContraAid,"connectingissuesata1980'swomen'srightsdemonstration.4.Demonstrationinlate1980'swheredemonstratorsheldcrosseswiththenamesofpeoplekilledasaresultofUSsupportofContras.5. PosterforWPCorganized

eventfeaturingJoanBaezandSenatorMcGovern(amongothers)in1975.6.BeckyOtterWilliamsmarkingtheendofherserviceonWPCboardintheearly1990's.7.SpeakeratG.W.Bush's2005counter-inauguration.8. Activistsathealthcaredemonstrationinearly1990'scallforsensiblepublicpolicyaroundtheAIDSepidemic.9.Imagefrommid-2000'sdemonstrationagainstthesecondinvasionofIraq10.Photofromthe1965StudentsforaDemocraticSociety'sMarchonWashington,thefirstbignationaldemonstrationagainstthewarinVietnam.WPCofferedlogisticalsupportforthis,andmanyotheranti-Vietnamwarmarches.11.DemonstrationoutsideoftheIMFduringtheGlobalJusticeMovement.12.CurrentWPCboardandstaffat2012retreat.13.Anti-ContraAiddemonstrationinthe1980'sfeaturingapuppetofBishopOscarRomero.14.WPCAdvisoryCouncilmember,GeoffMillard,speakingoutonbehalfofIraqVeteransAgainsttheWarinfrontoftheWhiteHouse.15.VigilersatademonstrationagainstSouthAfricanApartheidinthelate1980's.16. ProtesterhangssignoutwindowprotestingReaganAdministrationsupportofContras.17.WPCstaffmember,DanySigwalt,helpspaintasignatOccupyDCin2011.18.LongtermWPCallyandcitycouncilmemberHildaMasonataWPCeventinthe1980's.19.LarryScottattheFortDetrickVigilagainstbiologicalweaponswhichranfrom1959-1961,andstartedthechainofeventsthatleadtothefoundingoftheWashingtonPeaceCenter.20.WashingtonPeaceCenterActivistAwardeesatour2011ActivistAwardsGrassrootsGala21.WPCflag,circa1970's.

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WPC Across the Decades

"Thefallof2005hadamajorconvergenceonWashington,peoplewhoweretakingissueswiththewars,theanniversaryoftheinitiationoftheWaronAfghanistanandpeoplecametoprotest.[Therewasin]thevicinityof400arreststhatdayontheWhiteHousesidewalkfol-lowingamarchandarally.Afterthat,thechallengewasthatthose400peopledowninParkPoliceheadquartershadatrafficjamofbusesoflockups,andwegotdowntheresomethinglikesundown--sixorsevenintheevening,andbegantowaitforpeopletogetprocessedandreleasedandfigureouthowtofeedthem,getthembackintotown.Andthatwentonallnight.ThenwewentdowntotheMetrostation,wewereshuttlingpeopletotheMetro--thentheMetroclosedandthen--sowetookovertheparkinglotattheMetro"-PaulMagno

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2001-on: From 9/11 to the Invasion of Iraq

In the Peace Letter immediately following the 9/11 attacks, editors published the following Principles of

Unity: • Violence only leads to further

violence• Only justice; global, local and

personal, can bring about peace

• We must not turn this tragedy into war

After the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, the Peace Center was quick to respond and work towards building a strong base of nonviolent resistance against war. Within a month, WPC organized an anti-war teach-in that drew more than 200 people and helped organize a Peace Rally and March at Malcolm X park, which attracted over 3,000 people.

Leading up to and following the second US invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Washington Peace Center worked with United for Peace and Justice and other national organizations on local coordination, logistics and outreach for several marches, rallies, and actions in DC against the war in DC. The Peace Center was at the forefront of many mobilizations opposing the invasion of Iraq, including an action, coordinated with al-lied organizations, outside of Vice President Dick Cheney’s house. Additionally, the Peace Center served as fiscal sponsor for many organiza-tions at the center of anti-war dissent in the DC area; the DC Anti-War Network, Student Peace Action, and 9/11 CitizenWatch, among others. In addition to hitting the streets, WPC was squarely focused on promoting education about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and their implications for many communities. The Peace Center hosted teach-ins, held a summer films series called “The Cost of War,” and continued publishing its action and reflection oriented Washington Peace Letter, with articles on topics such as the poverty draft and counter recruitment, the importance of nonviolent direct action, additional military threats worldwide, and youth perspectives on the war.

2011-2012:Occupy DC

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Peace Center's Dany Sigwalt & Robby Diesu lead an anti-oppression training at Occupy DC.

The Occupy DC camp brought activists together from all corners of the city and country. The tent city boasted a kitchen, nurse-powered first-aid tent, comprehensive library

and more.

"ThefirsttimeIunderstoodhowmyprivilegeaffectsthosearoundme,Iwas16andsittingunderatreeatMcPhersonSquareintheearlydaysofOccupyDC,listeningtoDanyandRobbyfromtheWashingtonPeaceCentergiveananti-oppressiontraining.Weplayed"StandUp,StepBack",whereparticipantsstandinaline,linkhands,andstepforwardorbackwardbasedontheirpositioninlifeand,aftereveryoneissituated,"race"toapointinfrontofthem.Istoodnearthefront,closetothefinishline,andthegirlwhohadstartednexttomestoodallpacesbehindme."-RynSeidewitz,Fall2013PeaceOrganizingIntern

In the Fall of 2011, activists across the country and the world started “occupying” public spaces. Tens of thousands of people set up tent cities and protested the bank bailouts, foreclosures, and debt crisis that had defined their generation. Washington Peace Center staff and board members were front and center in Occupy DC. During this time, WPC dedicated significant organization energy towards building and supporting the local occupation, including facilitating General Assemblies, building committee structures, leading and organizing trainings and political teach-ins, and thinking strategically about how to connect the occupation to local ongoing campaigns. Of course, the Peace Center’s event equipment was used at many of the occupiers’ actions. Occupy DC brought many young activists out from the woodwork, and today the Peace Center continues to prioritize their leadership development and the ongoing education of emerging peace and justice activists who were inspired by Occupy. We strive to provide the training, resources and empowerment they’ve asked for, and we all need, to create the world we want.

Marching

on to the

next

50 Years

!

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2013: The Peace Center Today

Today the Washington Peace Center serves as a vibrant hub for peace and justice work in the DC area. We envision a world based on respect for people and the planet that is achieved through nonviolence, peace and social justice.

Our mission is to provide education, resources and action for those working for positive social change and a world free from oppression. We strive to build collaboration and communication among DC-based activists and build a stronger movement through connecting issues and communities.

Above: Recent WPC interns at our 50th anniversary celebration in May Left: WPC loans out event equipment at low or no cost for activists in the DC area. Our sound systems, stages and bullhorns were used over 70 times in 2012 by groups such as DC Jobs with Justice, Tarsands

Oil Rally, Institute for Policy Studies and Witness Against Torture.

Some highlights include:

• WPC serves as a resource for local and national groups organizing in the DC area, helping them obtain permits, prepare for civil disobedience, and more.

• Through the DC Trainer’s Network, we host monthly training skillshares for the DC community, and we hosted our first weekend-long Training for Trainers this spring. • WPC publishes our educational newspaper, The Peace Letter, twice a year. In 2012, we published the Training Issue and the Anti-Oppression issue. • Every December, WPC hosts the Activist Awards Grassroots Gala, honoring local activists and throwing a party for our whole community to celebrate our struggles and successes!

“So I was doing the national work, but also… When you’re in Washington… the national and local get

meshed much more than they do in any other place. So especially the DC Chapter of the Lawyer’s Guild gets

involved in a lot of different kinds of demonstrations… paying attention to national issues while focused on the

local. I really related to the Peace Center.”-Kit Gage

“When I bring foreign visitors to this city now, I try to remind them that this is what a war-torn refugee city looks like 150 years later, because this city was so shaped by the Civil War. And it also exposes how long it takes for an oppressed minority--African Americans--to get the reins of power, and what an imperfect process that is. More specifically, and more current to the Peace Center’s history, was the effort to bring about desegregation in the 50s and 60s, and then the way that race was used as a divisive issue during the Vietnam peace movement.” - David Hostetter

“[Supportingnationaldemonstrations]isarolethatthePeaceCenterhashistoricallyplayed.I’mactuallygladthatthePeaceCenterisstillsupporting,butthefocustodayisalotmoreoncom-munitysupport,communitygrassrootsgroups.Backthen,therealitywasthatthesebignationalgroupswhoorganizedinNewYorkorsomewhereelsewouldcomehereandexpectthoseofus[inDC]andintheWPCinparticular,to:‘Dropeverything[wewere]doing,andorganize[their]thing.’Essentially,wedidthat,anditwastothedetrimentoforganizinghereinDC.Itwasabigissue.Itwasdiscussedalot,andthePeaceCenterhasreallymaturedalotintermsofun-derstandingthatwehaveourownlocalidentity,andthatwecansupportnationalorganizationsbutthat’snotourfocus;ourfocusisorganizinghereatthegrassroots.Andthat’sarealpositivechangethathappened.”-JohnSteinbach

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT: ON THE LOCAL/NATIONAL DIVIDE...

“Theevolutionofsociety,theevolutionofconsciousness,isinextricablylinkedtowhathappensatagloballevelaswellasatalocallevel.Ican’tcareaboutsexualviolenceandsexualassaultwithoutbeingwillingtomobilizelocallyaswellasinternationally…Theissue,thefactofsexualviolencehappening,beingpartoftheconsciousness--thattranscendsboundaries.Itaffectsleadershipatalllevels--theideas,thebeliefsofleadersatalllevels…It’salwaysbeenmygoalasanactivisttomakethosetiesorthoseconnectionsforothersbecausethenIthinkthere’sarealawakeningifIcandothat.There’sarealawakeningatthelocallevel,andadevelopmentthatwe’reallpartofaglobalcommunity,aglobalconsciousness,andthatwhatwedohereshiftsconsciousness.So,that’sthewayIapproachit.”-JanetHeisse

“Iwasoneofthosepeoplewhocameherewiththisanti-warnationalorganizingfocus.Tome,DCwastheHill--itwastheHill,itwastheWhiteHouse,itwasnationalpolitics,itwastheCapitol.Andthennothavingaplacetolivehere,youstarttolearnwhathomelesspoliticsarelikehere.Whenyoumoveintoaneighborhood…asawhiteperson,andasaqueerwhiteperson,I’mcominginandI’vereallyencouragedgentrificationinxalotofways.Andsostrugglingthroughthat,andunderstandingwhatpartI’veplayedingentrifyingtheDistrict…WhenIstartedachapterofIraqVeteransAgainsttheWar,Ithoughtwe’dbetheoneswhoworkedontheHillandwewouldhelppushourlegislation--whichwewereforalongtime--butthenthatshiftedatsomepoint.Like‘Howcanweworkonstatehood?HowcouldIraqVet-eransAgainsttheWarhelppushstatehood?Howcouldweworkonlocalpovertyinitiatives?HowcanIdoworkthathelpstobringdownmilitarismand…hasarealimpactonthecommunitywhereIlive?’…IwantthatcommunitytobeimpactedbyIraqVeteransAgainsttheWar,andIwantIraqVeteransAgainsttheWartobeimpactedbythatcommunity.”-GeoffMillard

“What’sdistinctiveaboutthePeaceCen-teristhatit’salocalorganization,butit’sdefinitelyactiveinthenationalpeaceandjusticemovement.Weusedtotryandtellpeople,‘Ifyou’refromCaliforniaorNewYorkorsomeplaceelse,thinkofthePeaceCenter as your embassy inWashington,andifyouneedtobeinWashingtontotalkaboutsomethingtothepowersthatbe,wecanworkwithyou."-PaulMagno

"What was happening at that moment [in the 1980’s] was something really extraordinary and ugly, which was that the introduction of crack cocaine into the context of poverty and desperation had led to the explosion of what was called a drug war… Every single family in the lower-income African-American community will have a son, will have a grandson, or a daughter, or somebody who died at that time. Three thousand people murdered in a decade… And it was very painful… that the Peace Center wasn’t focused on this. We were focused on the Middle East, we were focused on South Africa, we were focused on Central America, and all of those were important, but there was a war happening right here. So one of the things Lisa and I began to talk about was pushing the Peace Center towards a more local focus, engaging with the peace and justice issues right here in this city.” - Mark Andersen

American Friends Service Commitee and aVigil partici-pant, wrote a letter to the Fort’s commander about thevital importance of protest and free speech. Meachemasserted,“Yousuggestthatourrighttoprotestpeacefullyispreservedbythesepreparationsforspreadinggerms.ThisI firmlydeny. The right toprotest is preservedby thosewhoinvoketherightitself.”Despitethemanychangesthathavetakenplacesincethe Vigil, Meachem’swords still ring true.Peace and freedomgrowfromnonviolentdissent and protest,not from the armedmight of the state. Whentheyendedthevigil,Scottandhiscomradesestab-lished theWashington PeaceAction Center, which from1961 through 1963 vigiled, leafleted and conducted civildisobedienceattheWhiteHouse,demandingacessationofthetestingofnuclearweaponsbytheUSandUSSR. During that time, the Peace Action Centeractivists mobilized women, students and church peopletospeakoutagainst thethreatofnuclearwar. Theyalsojoined in efforts for desegregation and participated inthe 1963 March onWashington for Jobs and Freedom.In the course of their work they came toWashington,the nation’s capital, to bear witness to their beliefs anddiscovered the community ofDC. Empowered by theirexperience, the core group dispersed in the fall of 1963topursue awide varietyof efforts for a just andpeace-ful world. TheWashington Peace Center is their legacy. Theempowermentmodeloforganizinghaslongbeen at the heart of what makes the Center a distinctpresence among the many organizations that work forpeaceand justice. LarryScottspentagreatdealof timethinking about nonviolent strategy. Applying Gandhianideas of nonviolence to the struggles for disarmament,civil rights and against theVietnamwar, he helped to setthecourse fortheworkthePeaceCenterhascontinued

topursue. Scott recognizedtheexperi-mental nature of nonviolence, and thatspirit has lived on in the many actionswithwhichtheCenterhasbeeninvolved. During my most active yearswith the Center the prime focus wasresistingtheReaganadministration’smili-

tary interven-tion inCentralAmerica.Working withthe Pledge ofResistance, in1986 I partici-patedinasit-in

in the rotunda of theUSCapitol. Ourgroup, trying to prevent Congress fromprovidingmoreaid to thecounter-revo-lutionaryforcesattackingthegovernmentofNicaragua,satdownamongthetouristswho, in those pre-9/11 days, wanderedtheCapitolatwill. Oncewemadeitclearthatwewould not leave voluntarily, the Capitolpoliceclearedtherotunda.Aswewaited to be arrested,wesurveyedthehistoricroomaroundus. While the like-nessesofgeneralsandpresidentsdominatedthescene,wespottedQuakerWilliamPenn,founderofPennsylvania,inafriezewhereheisshakinghandsin1682withhisseeminglysurprised Lenni Lenape treaty partners. Penn the peace-makerhad longstoodaloneamidstdepictionsofwarringwhitemenbusilysubjugatingFirstPeoplesandtheland.ThatyearhehadbeenjoinedbyabustofMartinLutherKing,Jr. Sincethen thesculptedliknessof suffraists

Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton andSusan B. Anthony have also been added.

Whileourpresenceduringthatsit-inwasfleet-ing,we knew thatwewere thedescendantsofpeace seekers of the past, and later said so atour trial. In our effort to prevent theUS frombeingmiredinyetanotherwar,wewerespurredby King’s admonition: “When machines andcomputers, profit motives and property rightsare considered more important than people,the giant triplets of racism, materialism, andmilitarism are incapable of being conquered .”

Wehaveconfronted,butnotovercome,the triplets described by King. The challengesfacedbythe foundersof theWashingtonPeaceCenterhavegrowngreaterandmorecomplex.We may have helped prevent a US war inCentralAmerica, but there are many potholes

on the path to a more peaceful world, and the Centeranditsallieshavehitsomeofthemalongtheway.None-theless, what began as small network of predominantlyEuro-American religious pacifists focused on disarma-menthasgrown toencompassadiversecommunityandwide-range of issues connected to justice and peace. The notion that everyone’s voice counts,an ideal that has always animated the Center’s work,remains central to the sense of community that hasbeen sustained for more than fifty years. Five decades

of experimenting with nonviolent social change hasbuilt a vital legacy of resistance that must be continued. I thinkourcommitment topeacefulmethodsofchange while recognizi, in the words of Quaker authorMargaretHopeBacon,that“ourallegiancetononviolencedoesnotdemandfromusthatweshrinkfromtakingsides,”has been the Center’s greatest success. Waging peaceremains amonumental struggle, yet our effort to defendtherightofprotestitselfthroughactive,nonviolentdissentremainsthecentralworkoftheWashingtonPeaceCenter. David Hostetter served on the staff of the Peace Center from 1985-88 and during 1995. He is author of the book Move-ment Matters: American Antiapartheid Activism and the Rise of Multicultural Politics. His article “Experiment in Persuasion: The Vigil to Stop Biological Weapons at Fort Detrick, 1959-1961, and Antiwar protest in the 1960s,” is included in the book Mid-Maryland History: Conflict, Growth and Change.

The empowerment model of organizing has long been at the heart of what makes the Center a distinct presence among the any organizations that work for peace and

justice.

page 20

Then: WPC Coordinators David Hostetter and Lisa Fithian hard at work at the Peace Center's office in the Friends Meet-ing House of Washington, in the 1980's.

The Purpose of Protest

The notion that everyone’s voice counts, an ideal that has

always animated the Center’s work, remains central to the sense of community that has been sustained for more than fifty years.

Now: Former WPC Coordinators, David Hostetter (L) and Lisa Fi-thian (R) with long-time volunter Joanne Heissel (center) reunited at the Washington Peace Center 50th Anniversary Pary.

Reflections and Lessons After Four Decades of Organizing

page 21

By Lisa Fithian

2013 isasignificantyear inmyworkfor justice.Itwas 50 years ago theNationalMarchonWashingtonmadehistory andDr.Kingwrotehis famous letter fromtheBirminghamJail.Fiftyyearsago,theWashingtonPeaceCenterwasfounded.Twenty-fiveyearsago,IservedastheCoordinatoroftheWashingtonPeaceCenter. Tenyearsago,UnitedforPeaceandJusticewasborn,acampaigninwhich IcontinuetoserveasaNationalConvener. Oneyearago,IjoinedthePeaceCenterAdvisoryCouncil.Allofthisworkundertaken inthe legacyandexperienceofall thathascomebeforehascomefullcircle formeas IpreparedtomarchonAugust24tocommemorate that1963MarchonWashingtonforJobsandFreedom. Whilemypoliticalorganizingbegan in themid-70’s and included a variety of organizational work, theWashington PeaceCenterwas the first“job” I had thatallowedmetocreateanewvision foran institutionandpushthePeaceCenterintonewfrontiersofsocialjustice.Itwasaplaceoflearningandgrowingforme,justasitistodayformanyamazingandtalentedyoungpeople. While thePeaceCenter grewoutof theworkof theQuakers to stop biological warfare developmentin the early 1960’s, itwent on to be a significant playerin theanti-VietnamWarmovement, counter-recruitment,wartaxresistance,GIsupportandmore.Nowafterfivedecades, fourwars,multiplemilitary incursionsandmany,manymovementsforjustice,theWashingtonPeaceCentercontinues to be a pillar in the nation’s capital for manymobilizations–national,regionalandlocal. SomeofthelessonsthatstaywithmefromthePeaceCenterandbeyond:

1) The Power of the People Don’t Stop! From thePledge toResist theUSWar inCentralAmerica totheArabSpring,Occupyandbeyond…generationaftergenerationwecarryonthestruggle,andwedoitprimar-ily throughvoluntaryassociationandcommunitybuildingpractices.Peopleworkingtogetherreallycanmakeadiffer-ence,andwedomakehistory.Thereisnofinancialwealthtobemade,buttherewardsandgiftsofrelationshipsandworkwelldonefarexceedthevalueofanydollar(atleastinmyworldview)!Theissuesseemtoalwaysexist,butthespaces,structures,andprocessesthatallowpeopletoworktogetheroncommonconcernsseemtocomeandgo.AtthePeaceCenter,manyofthevoluntarycommitteesthatexistedinthe80’sarenolongerfunctioning,likethePeaceLetterCommitteeortheAnti-OppressionTrainingGroup.However,newgroupshaverisentotaketheirplace,liketheTrainersNetworkandmore.Thesespacesareessentialtomovementbuilding, and thePeaceCenter isanessentialpointofentryforpeoplewhowakeupanddecide“It istimetodosomethingtomakethisworldabetterplace."

2) Be Bold in Seeking Justice–when thePeaceCenterbegan to speakout forqueer rights,oruniversalhealthcare, or against the Israeli occupation of Palestine,somewerechallengedbythiswork.Whenitcametimetotakenonviolentdirectactionandgotojail,somewerechallengedbythiswork.Whenwetookthestreetswith-outpermits,somewerechallengedbythiswork.Whenwebegantore-definepeacetoencompassthedomesticwarsandthewaronpeopleofcolor,somewerechallengedbythiswork. Ifwearenotchallengingpeople,wearenotdoing thework that needs to be done. I believe thatfrom crisis, radicalchange (a.k.a. trans-formation) can beborn. This iswhatweareseeking.Weneedradicalchange,andwewillnotgetit without a willing-ness to be bold, togoagainstthestatusquo,andworkandtounderstandthatcrisisisanopportunityforchange. 3) Be Courageous in Confronting Racism and all forms of Oppression –ifwetrulyseekpeacewithjusticewemustbeseriousaboutundoingoppression.Theentirestructure/systeminwhichweliveisriggedtoben-efit the few while systematically/intentionally/consciouslyand unconsciously screwing everybody else. We havethepower to change this abusive, exploitive, andhatefulparadigm;butitwilltakecourage,notguilt.Wemustspeakwith honesty, not shame.Wemust showwillingness, notdefensiveness.Wemust embody humility, not righteous-ness.Mostimportantly,wemustactoutofrespect,notoutoffearoradesiretodistanceothers.ThisislifeworkandIhavehadsomanyteachers.ButitwasattheWashingtonPeace Center that we undertook a successful effort totransformfromanall-whitepeacegrouptoamulti-cultural,multi-racial organization for change.With help from thePeoples Institute for Survival and Beyond, a lot of hardwork,andinspiteofmorethanafewmistakes,webuiltastrongfoundationinre-definingpeacetosupportcollec-tiveliberation.

4) Make Good Use of Resources–whetherhumanormaterial.Organizingforpeaceandjusticeissomeofthemostdifficultworkbecauseitrunscountertothedominantculture.Butitisherethatnewseedsofabetterworldgetplantedandcangrow.Organizingpeopleandorganizingresourcesareessentialtomovementwork.Howyoudoitdependsonthecultureyoueitherperpetuate,orthenewculture youwant tobuild. ThePeaceCenter is a spacethatallowsforalittlebitofboth.Ilearnedtheessentialsofbookkeeping,budgeting,financialmanagementandfund-raisingatWPC–theseareskillsIhaveusedoverandoverandoveragain.Whileoperatingasa501(c)3withaboardandstaff,thePeaceCenterreliesonitsBoard,interns,vol-

unteersandotherengagedcommunitymemberstomakethings happen. But thePeaceCenter is also a resourcesupportingmanyothergroups,creatingaspaceforthemtotakeactionontheirownbehalf.Thereisalsoroomforindividualsandgroupstocoalesceasneeded.ThePeaceCenterhasbeenahistoricalconvenerbecauseweknowto leaveourownagendaatthedoor. Wedon’t imposeany dogma or political platform or ideological position;thePeaceCenterhasalwaysfocusedonthegreatergood.OneofthemostimportantlessonsIlearnedisthatthereareavarietyofwaystobuildorganization,fromthePeace

Center to a volunteer working group, to the Pledge ofResistance;networkofaffinitygroupsandspokescouncils,toorganizationalcoalitionsoralliances.Differentsituationscall fordifferent structures,butwhat is important tomeistobemindfulofthevaluesthatunderliethework,themissionorprinciples thatunite thegroup,howpower isheld,accessedandaccountable,andwhatsupportspeopleneedtobefullypresent,authenticandabletocontributewhat they have tooffer. Participatory/direct democracy,horizontalstructuresandconsensusbaseddecision-making,and life-long learning are all essential underpinnings forbuildinganewworld.

5) Throw Yourself In and Be Fully Alive! WeputourBODIESonthe lineandwentto jail. WeusedourMINDStobestrategicinouractionsandintentionalinourculture.WeusedourHEARTS–welovedeachotherandwhatweweredoing. Webuilt strong communitiesandtookcareofoneanother.SPIRITwasessentialtothework-envisioningotherwaystheworldcouldbe,lettingourimaginationbeourguideandusingourcreativity,songs,danceandart,flowthroughallthatwedidanddo.DuringmyyearsattheWashingtonPeaceCenter,wehadagreattimetogether,organizingcreativeandpowerfulproteststostoptheUSWarinCentralAmericaandoverthecourseofhistory,itisclearthatwedidstopit.Justasthoseseek-ingclimatejustice,orracialjustice,orjusticeinhealthcare,theworkplace,oranywhereonPlanetEarthwillonedayprevail.Ihopeyouwilljoinmeinthestreetsaswecontinuetomarchonthelongroadofjustice.

Lisa Fithian is a social justice powerhouse who's been orga-nizing since the 1970's. She served as coordinator of WPC from 1987-1995 and currently serves on the Peace Center's Advisory Council.

Organizing for peace and justice is some of the most difficult work because it runs counter to the dominant culture. But it is here that new seeds of a better world get planted and can grow.

Aswecommemorate50yearsofthePeaceCenter, I feel it’shelpful to lookbackonourleftist past as we strive to move forward..

I can really only speak to the lastdecadeofleftistmovementbuildingintheUSasI’veexperiencedit.Likemanyofmypeers,Icameintothestruggleasateenageactivistafter9/11.WhiletheUSwasdestroyingcom-munitiesinIraqandAfghanistan,communitiesofcolorherewerefeelingtheimpactoftheWaronTerrorinourstreets.Ourbrownskins,foreignnames,andpossiblyAraborMuslimassociationswereathreattotheAmericanhegemony.We felt increasinglyunwelcomeandalienatedhere,acountrymanyofuswerebornin;thiswasafeel-ingthatourBlackandLatinofriendswerealreadydeeplyfamiliarwith.

Wewereyoungandpissedoff.Wewerecom-ingofagewithavibrantanti-warmovementthatwasstillridingonthetail-endoftheanti-globalizationmovement.These activists had brought us the Battle of Seattle thatchallengedneo-liberalismheadon.Butwhilethebattlewaswon,thewarwasn’tover.

Inthepost-9/11environmentofjingoisthysteria,theUSImmigrationCustomsEnforcement(ICE)wascre-atedandGuantanamoBayopened.Overtheyears,bothinstitutions have destroyed local immigrant communitiesandterrorizedpeopleofcolorworldwidewithdraconian,inhumanepractices.Our localproblemscouldno longerbedisconnected fromtherealityof theworld.Wewereall battlingAmerican hegemony, which was asserting itsmilitarypowerworldwidewhileitcontinuedtoincarcerateBlackmenhereatrecordrates.

This isthe intersectionalanalysisthatmyfellowstudentactivistsand Iwerebuildingwhilewethoughtofcreativewaystodisruptthewars.Wemighthavemissedthe anti-globalization movement but still were able togaina lotof lessons fromit,especiallysincemanyofourmentors had been a part of it.They encouraged us tobe creative in our analysis and our actions, to questionallauthority,torememberthatsolidaritymustrunacrossrace,class,gender,ability-allidentities.WewatchedeverymovemadebyourcomradesinChiapasandPalestineandwheneverwecould,wewouldbethereinsolidaritywiththem.Wewerebecomingmoremilitantby theday andtooktohearttheZapatistas’mottoof“frombelowandtotheleft.”Unfortunately,manyoftheprogressiveorganiza-tionsandcoalitionsthatwerecomingupatthetimedidnotembracethatnotion.

Andit’susuallyaroundthetimewhenweregressfrom being radicals that things start to falter because inthelongrun,playingbytherulesdoesn’thelpuswininabigway.Whilestate-sanctionedprotestsandralliesmightbeagoodenergyboost,theyjustturnedintophoto-opsthat didn’t actually mobilize communities or challengepower dynamics.At the same time,massive amounts of

resourceswere poured into organizingCongres-sional support which might have gotten somelegitimateshort-termgains,but littlewasdonetochallengecapitalismandimperialisminameaningfulandstrategicway.Butthisisthepaththenationalanti-warmovementstartedtotakeandwepartedwaysaround2007.

I was in my mid-20s then and full ofdisillusion and rancor against the apathy of the

AmericanLeft.Thenextyear, theeconomytanked. I sawmyfamilyandfriendsstrugglingfinanciallyasaresultofthis.TheAmericanLeftwasgraspingatstrawstryingtofigureouthowtousethisasamomenttoorganizebutwehadnoideawhattodo.Andthenthegrowingoutragethathadbeen simmering for years, decadeseven, exploded.ArabSpringhappened.ThenWisconsinhappened.ThenOccupyWallStreethappened. Itwas likeashotofadrenalinetoleftists everywhere. Populist rage spilled over - no gods,nomastersstyle-anditwasamazing.Idon’tthinkIsleptthose twoyearsandneitherdidanyother leftist Iknow.Creative and innovative actions, that many of us in thisroomhelpedplan,includingSonia,DanyandPeaceCenterboardmembers,wereespousedinlieuofpoliticalmeetingsontheHill.Butrighteousanger,withoutpurpose,withoutrevolutionary vision andwithout political intent canonlysustainusforsolong,sothesemomentsended.

But they’ve left theirmarkonus forever.Thesepastfewyearshavehelpedmobilizeanewgenerationofactivistswhoaredisillusionedbyelectoralpolitics,andgotthemtothinkaboutaradicalpoliticalanalysisandexperi-encenewformsoforganizing.Youcan’thaveblockedtheentrance toaWells Fargowith yourownbodyandnotwalkawaywithoutfeelingexhilaratedfortakingaction,butalsoshamethathumanswouldratherhurtotherhumansthanhaveanyharmcometocommerce.Whichbringsustotoday...

Shit isworsethaniteverhasbeen.Fromgrow-ingincomeinequalitytoausteritycutstodroneattackstoclimate change, the onslaught on working peoples’ livesand the environment has been relentless.The past fewyearshavebeenespeciallydepressingasitseemslikewelearnednothingfromtheeconomiccrisisof2008exceptthatthefolkswhohadnothingtodowiththecrashwillbearthecostofit.Forme,MovementAffectiveDisorderset inprettyheavilyandnothingwas inspiring.But inthemiddleofwinter, small shootsof hope startedemerginglocally.DREAMersinMarylandgottheDREAMActpassed.Virginiaisonthefrontlinesofbuildinganamazingimmi-grantsrightsmovementthatdoesn’tsettleforshort-termreform.Activists inD.C.arefightingtoprotectthepublicschoolsystembyanymeansnecessary.Thesemaybesmallvictories,butthey’reworthcelebratingasaretheincredibleactiviststhatmakethemhappen.

Inthesedarktimes,I’mslowlyemergingfrommyM.A.D.withsomethoughts:

1.We need to start thinking about what it really means to build a new world in the shell of the old. Reformworktomakeworkingpeoples’ lives better needs to keep going but thereneedstobeaparalleltrackofrevolutionaryorganizingthat seeks tohit at theheartof capital andempire.Whilewe’reonit, let’snotact likethenon-profitorunionwork is the“real”workandeverythingelse isbullshit.Weallneedtositatthetableandbreakbread,together.

2.We need to believe that we can win in really big ways.Wecan’tthinkofourworkasaHailMarypassbecausethatwillinhibitanybig,coura-geousideaswemighthave.WeknowwhatwinningfortheAmericanLeft looks like fromour revolutionaryancestors who sat in at lunch counters to protestsegregation,whooccupiedautofactoriestofightforthe right tounionize, andwho rioted toendpolicepersecutionofhomosexuals.

3.We need mentors. I’mnoteven30yet.IhavenoideawhatIamdoingmostofthetimeorwhySoniaSilbertkeepsharassingmetospeakaboutmovementbuilding. For those of you that have been here andhavedonethisworkbefore,weneedyou.

4. We can never forget why we do this. Becausetheworld is an incredibly fuckedup place and we can either becomplacentandwatchtheHavestakeawayagencyanddignityfromtheHaveNotsorwecansay“HellNo”andfightback.

I want to end with someencouragement from the DillonPanthers in “Friday Night Lights.”Every night before the big game,this is what they say, and I wantyou to say it with me and own it. “Cleareyes,fullhearts,can’tlose.”

Thankyou.

Vasudha Desikan currently serves on the Peace Center Board.

continued from page 1

The Next 50 Years: Building a New World

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ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS & PROGRESS...

When asked about his draft counseling work: “Wewereveryconsciousthatweweretherenotjusttohelppeoplesatisfytheirindividualconsciencesby…stay-ingoutofthemilitary,butifwecould,tomakeithardertopersecutethewar.SoIthinkwedidhaveanimpact…Themachinewasn’tworkingaswell,sothatwascertainlyonefactorinbringingthewartoanend.AndIwasonelittlepieceinthat"-SteveMetalitz

"OneofmywonderingsthesedaysisforthePeaceCenterandforthemove-ment ingeneral. It's important to lookbackat the50yearsof thePeaceCenterandlearnsomelessonsandseesomeaccomplishments,butitsalsoimportant--whatarewegoingtodototakethathistoryandexperienceandplayitforward?Howisthatgoingtohelpusbuild--amovementwithsomemeaningandsomethingtosayandsomethingtodothat’sconstructivetotheworldforthenexttenortwentyyears.Ithinkweneedtomeetthatchal-lengeandlearntolookaheadandnotletthatlookingbackonourhistorybepurenostalgia.It'sanotherkindofcomplacencythatIworryabout."-PaulMagno

“Changedoesn’thappeninstantlyandovernight.And,youknow,whenIlookathistory…therearelotsoftimeswhenyoucanseewherechangewouldhavehappenedfasterifpeoplewouldhavegoneslower…There’salottobesaidfor,evenifyouhavethisvision,ofnotassumingthateverybodyshould immediatelycatchupwithyou. Itdoesn’tmean that there isn’t injusticeorthatyoudon’twannadealwithit…There’salottobesaidforthinkingabout,‘Howcanweworktogether?Howcanwebuildonwhatweagreeon?Howcanwemovethingsalong?EvenifI’mwayoutoverhere,howcanIreachbacktoyou?’”-J.E.McNeil

“The struggle still goes on. It’s like peeling the onion, there’s more and more and more, more and more and more freedom to be had, to keep, to cherish.” - Janet Heisse

“They [the Reagan administration] did have to contend with dissent--there’s the key dilemma, just because dissent doesn’t bring exactly the result that the dis-senters want, if you subtract the dissenters then it’s much worse! So taking heart from the fact that, while we didn’t get what we wanted… Had we not been there, Lord knows what would have happened! I think that’s a difficult way to inspire yourself, and to work for that, certainly. People tend to have loftier ideals and vi-sions than that, but that’s the result in the short term that we usually get... And I hope--I don’t know if I’ll see it--but I hope some of the things that we planted with our efforts… pay off.” - David Hostetter

“There’sareallyexcellent,progressivemovementdoinggoodthings,andthere’sareallypowerful,conservativemovementthat,bydesign,isresistingthat.Unfortunately,thelatterseemstohavemoremusclethanthegoodguys.Somethingshavechangedfundamentallyandcompletely,thatIthinkaremovingintherightdirection,justinsocialchange;what’sgoingonnowbywayofaffirmationofpeoplewhoaren’tstraightinoursoci-ety;we'vegotapersonofcolorsittingintheWhiteHouse,intheOvalOffice.Therearefundamentalchangesinthecharacterofoursocietythathavecomeoutofourstruggle.But,that’snottosaytherearen’tfundamentalcalamities--Thenationalsecu-ritystaterunsamokandisaccountabletonothing…andtheyfliptheirfingeratthelawandhumandecency...Andyet,there’sactivistoutburstsallthetimethataregreat.Ithinkthere’ssomeconstructiveprogressgoingonintheworldandinoursociety,andtherewillbevictoriousdaysagain.”-PaulMagno

“Itwouldbehardtobeastudentofhistoryandnotseeprogress,right?Iverymuchthinkthatwehavecomealongway…However,westillhavealongwaytogo…Nowthatwe’reinthepost-Iraq,andabouttobepost-Afghanistan,era,we’reseeingagainthiskindofpost-Iraq“syndrome”…Idon’tthink,personally,you’regonnaseeanotherbigwarlikeIraqforatleast20to30years,minimum,possiblyalotlongerthanthat…Andthat’sinreactiontowhatwe’vedoneasananti-warmovement.Wemobilizedthepublic…doingthateducationwork,doingthatorganizingwork,buildingthecommunitysupportaroundwithdrawingconsentfromthemilitaryandagainstmilitarypolicy…Theyseethat,andsonowyouhavethisdronewar.Welladronewarisadirectreflectionofwhattheycan’tdo--theycan’thavelargegroundtroopsgoingin,sothey’regonnausedrones.Sonow,weadaptagain…andwestartlookingat21stcenturywarfareandwhatthat’sgonnalooklike,andwhatthatmeansforusasorganizers.Buttherealityisthatcomesfromourvictory!…Therealityisthatwehavechangedhistorybecauseoftheworkwe’vedone.”-GeoffMillard

When asked if she has a sense of her contribution to social change:"Neverenough.There’ssomuchtodo.ButIdoknowthatIparticipatedinsomeways.Andthat’swhatwassosatisfyingaboutthePeaceCenter.Besideslearningthings,it’sjustthatsenseof,“Wearemakingachange.”-BeckyOtterWilliams

ON ANTI-OPPRESSION...

“Youdon’twannathinkofyourselfasbeingracistandsexistandalltheseotherthings,butthefactisyou’refeedingintoallthesesystems.And,like,beingtrainedasa[white]‘dude’inthiscountry,Ihavealotofbehaviorsthatarereallysexistandreallyracist.Andso,youknow,feminismandanti-racistworkissomethingthatIlearnedtopractice,ratherthansayinglike,“Iamafeminist,”or,“Iamanti-racist.”Saying“ThesearethingsthatIpractice.”Andjustlikeyoga,sometimes[it’s]reallysmoothandIgetit,andothers,Ifallonmyface.Andsoprac-ticinganti-racistbehaviorandpracticingfeministwork…hasbecomepartofthatI’mnotgoingtosucceedallthetime.I’mgonnafailalot,andI’mgonnascrewup,butthat’spartofpracticingthesethings,right?Andthesamethingwhenitcomestodoinganti-militaristworkandanti-warwork.It’ssomethingthatwepractice;it’snotsomethingthatwegetallthetime.”-GeoffMillard

“Oneofthethingswherewehave,internaltothemovement--andIthinktosomedegreeinsociety--madeprogressisinmovingawayfromassump-tionsofpatriarchalprivilegewithinthemovement.Thatstyleoforganizing…inthelate60sandearly70sintheanti-warmovement,cameoutofmaleexperienceandmaleoppositiontothedraft,andthefeministmovementrespondedtothatovertime.AndthePeaceCenterwasoneplacewherethatfloweredreallywell,partlybecauseofQuakerorigins,partlybecausewomentookresponsibilitythereinacontextwhereitwasn’taboutbeingthepersononTV,oratthemicrophone,orgettingthecredit.Butitwasaboutanempowermentmodelthatinvolvedaheavydoseoffeministinfluence.Andthatwasn’talwayseasy,andwehadproblemsandmisunderstandings,butcertainlyIthinkthat’sanaccomplishmentasanorganizationwecantakecreditfordoingourbestat.Andtheanti-raciststuff,inasimilarway,toadifferentdegreeofsuccess,wetookthatontoo.Andthat,Ithink,hasaddeduptothelongevityandresilienceoftheCenter.”-DavidHostetter

“Myfeministteacherswerelargely--notexclusively,butlargely--women of color who understood that youcan’tseparate--whenyou’redealingwithsexism,whenyou’redealingwithpatriarchy,whenyou’redealingwithrape culture--you can’t separate out class issues andraceandethnicity…There’ssomescientificdiscussionnowabouttheempathygeneand,youknow,howweevolvedasgreatapestoplaceagreatemphasisonem-pathy.ButIbelieve--callmeoldfashioned--Ithinkyouactuallyhavetoworkatit.Istillcarrybaggagefrommy18 years inDexter,Michigan, in terms of gender at-titudes,racialattitudes,classattitudes…I’m66andI’mstillfightingitallthetime.Andprobablyonmydeathbed I’llbewondering,‘Wheredidthat thoughtcomefrom?’”-JohnSteinbach

"AndwhatwedidwaswebuiltanAdvisoryCouncilofabout25peoplefromeveryareaofthecity,everyethnicityinthecityprettymuch,almosteveryissuegroupinthecity,probablymissingsomeofcourse,butitwasaprettydynamicspace.ItwasthetypeofspaceanditwastheplacewhereIfirstlearnedthatwhenyoucrossthesehistoricallinesofdivision,youreleaseandgeneratealotofpower.Becausethesekindsofspacesarenotspacesthatmostpeopleareusedtobeingin.Evenincommunitiesofcolortherearehistoricaldivides.Sowhenyoucanallcometogetherinthesamespacewherethereissomeequity,itwasessentialforhowwebegantolearn."-LisaFithian

“We really don’t want to stop our work because we can’t become the totally merged, integrated society that we would like to be. We can’t, we should not, I think, be embar-rassed or feel humiliated or as if we’re doing something wrong just because we can’t find this ideal mixture of ages and sex and race. There’s a process sometimes that is occurring and we trust ourselves in that. The Peace Center struggled through that and I think it came out better for going through the struggle. There will always be that struggle.” - B Wardlaw

"Privilege is [a challenge]. Address-ing it in myself and addressing it in the group. That plays out in ‘shoulds’: what we should do, how we should do things, what will people think, what’s right. So it’s continually, that need for me, to suspend the privilege in me, which is: “I think we should do it this way, this is the way it should be done." Because I believe that that goes back to--suspending that, moving away from that--to the revolution of society, away from a rigid royalty system, a rigid colonial system, a rigid racial… segregation system. It goes back personally to challeng-ing that and, as well, socially and politically challenging that.” - Janet Heisse

ON COMMUNITY...

“Ifyougobackandlookatvideo,say,ofthe25thanniversaryofthePeaceCenter-toagreatextent,itwasolderfolks,olderwhiteactivists.{Therewere]Veryfewpeopleofcolor.Then,lookatthe50thanniversary[party].Therewerealotofpeopleofcolorthere.Evenmore importantly, lookattheageofthepeoplewhowereparticipating.Therewere a lotofpeoplewhowere in their 20s;therewereprobablysomeyoungerpeoplethanthat…a lotofpeopleintheir30s.Therewerepeopleintheir40s,50s,60s,and70s,butitwasn’tdominatedbyolderfolks…AndthisiscredittotheworkthatthePeaceCenter isdoing. Imean,Soniahasbeenthelatestmanifestation,butshe’snottheonlyone.Andso,there-fore,thePeaceCenter,toagreatextent,isthefaceofyouthandtheyoungergeneration.Sothat’saradicalchangefromthePeaceCenterIknewwhenIfirstmovedherein1981.”-JohnSteinbach

“I don’t have children of my own or family in that sense, so in a way your peace and justice community can be your family. There’s a number of people who appreciate those movements and the groups that meet regularly as kind of a surrogate family, kind of like your church family is. It’s another way of connecting with people." -Ann Wilcox

“Thatcommitmenttooneanotheris,intheend,themostimpor-tantthing:learningfromoneanother.OneoftherealstrengthsI’vefoundinpeacemovementorganizingingeneral,andthePeaceCenterinparticular,wasthatwewerealwaysintergenerational.Wehadretiredfolks,wehadmiddleagedfolks,wehadyoungpeople.Andeachofthemhaveaperspectiveatthatpointinlife…thatisdifferent.IwastotallyimpatientwhenIwasyounger,youknow,thechangehadtocomenow!Andthatprobablywasn’tpracticalorrealistic,butontheotherhanditgaveustremendousenergy…”-DavidHostetter

“I’mnotemployedbythePeaceCenter,I’mnotontheboard,butIthinkthePeaceCenterismorethanthat.It’sacommunity,it’saspirit,andinthatsenseI’veneverlefttheWashingtonPeaceCenter.I’vealwaysbeenpartofit,sinceIfirstcametotheFriendsMeetingHouseofWashingtonin1984.AndthatisthevisionthatIstillhold,beyondallthemessycom-plicatedstuff,Iknowthereisawayforustolivetogetherasonefamily,anddoitwithagreatdealofjusticeandgraceandhumor,andthat’swhatthePeaceCenterisabout.”-MarkAndersen

“I feel like there’s so much institutional knowledge that we have in our community of activists and organizers, but we don’t do a very good job of sharing that institutional knowledge. We don’t transfer the skills that we have… I wanted a way to be able to share that with my community--the institutional knowledge that I bring. And being on the Advisory Council for the Peace Center was a way that I could bring that without being on another board, putting in a lot of energy that I just didn’t have to give at the time… So it’s a really great chance to be able to plug into an organization I really care about in a way that’s meaningful to me and that I can do without overextending myself.” - Geoff Millard

"I remember when we’d go to the Friends Meeting House, Joe Volk was the director there, and we begged to borrow his mimeo machine because copying was fairly new and mimeo was much cheaper."-John Steinbach

"I’m trying to remember what I did as an intern--remember, this is technologically a totally different world. You showed me this newsletter, here; which is from October 1967, so this was a year later, but this was obviously done on a mimeograph machine. You would type up a stencil, and then there would be a machine and you would either be--I can’t remember if the Peace Center had one that was- that turned the drum electrically or whether you actually had to stand there and crank it. But you had to make the stencil, and there was a lot of work involved in that, printing it out, and if you wanted to print on the other side you had to turn it over. So that was the way we communicated. I remember the files, a lot of the contacts were 3x5 cards, so we’d be alphabetizing and organizing those." - Steve Metalitz

ON TECHNOLOGY..."Inthe60s,oneoftheboardmembersworkedforagovernmentagencywherehecouldgoinafterhoursandupdatetheaddresspunchcards.SothewaywekepttheaddresslistwaswithastackofpunchcardswhichwouldbedeliveredtothisprintshopoutinTakoma,andthentheywouldbringusbackthelabels.Wedidn’thaveanycontroloverthat.Thenin1985therewasahistoricdecisionbythefederalgovernmenttoscrapalltheirpunchcardtablessothatforcedustomakeachangeandforawhilewehadavolunteerthatworkedatPeaceActionthatwouldtakeourluggableportableandtakeittotheirprinterandprintstuffout.ThenfinallyJohnStuartdonatedacomputer."-DavidHostetter

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“ThePeaceCenterhasbeenabletodosimplebuttremendouslyimportantactivities--providingthetoolboxforthebroadermovement--meetingspace,PA,tipsonpublicity,onmediawork--thesekindsofthingsthataresoimportant.BecausethePeaceCenteressentiallyistheclearinghouse,thenucleusoftheatom,ifyouwill,wherethespokescometogether.Andthatisathanklesstaskoften,butit’stremendouslyimportant.It’ssoimportant.”-MarkAndersen

"I think the Washington peace and justice community is much

better with the Peace Center alive and kicking than with it

having collapsed and gone away. I think Washington needed it."

-Paul Magno

"TherearecertainpeoplewhoIreallyadmirewhotake responsibility for leadership. Imean leader-ship at theWashingtonPeaceCenter, I’ve alwaysthought,mustbeoneofthehardestjobsintownbecauseof all the issues. Everything does cometogetherandthePeaceCenteriscalledontohavesome opinion or some connection to virtuallyeverythingthat’sgoingonaroundus."-BWardlaw

“Personal things are part of the context of the survival and success of the Peace Center. Some of my best personal memories come from having been an activist and having been associated with the Peace Center. You know, some of the memories—‘I did that? Wow! I was there!’" - Janet Heisse

“Ialways, inmymind,hadthe imageofanold fashionedtele-phoneoperator, takingthecordoutandputting it intherighthole--That’sa lotofwhatthePeaceCenterdoesbecausethefull-timestaffhasthetimeandvisionandscopeofvisiontosay“Well,youknow,youreallyneedtobeintouchwiththisperson.”Andsothingscometogetheranditdoesn’tnecessarilyhavethePeaceCenterstamponit,but,infact,itwouldn’thavehappenedifthePeaceCenterhadn’tbeenintheloop.”-DavidHostetter

"Therewerenationalissuesbuttheyhappenedtobehappeninglocally.I’msureyou'vetalkedalotaboutthePeaceCenter’sroleinsupportingthebigdemonstrations.Again,thatwashappeningwhenIwastheretoo.Iknow’65therewasthefirstbigMarchonWashington.’67wasthebigmobilizationwhenwelevitatedthePentagonandthefall1967,youknowthefamousphotosofpeoplestickingtheflowersinthegunbarrels.Allthatwasbuilding.Buteventhen,therewassomesensethattheWashingtonPeaceCenterhadasomewhatdifferentrolethanitwouldifithadbeentheChicagoPeaceCenterortheBaltimorePeaceCenterorwhateverbecausethesenationaldemonstrationswerehappeninghere."-SteveMetalitz

ON THE PEACE CENTER...

50 Years of Activism!

50 Years of Activism!

We Thank ou For Your Support!

"It'salwaysbeenmygoalasanactivisttomakethosetiesorthoseconnectionsforothersbecausethenIthinkthere’sarealawakeningifIcandothat.There’sarealawakeningatthelocallevel,andadevelopmentthatwe’remoreofaglobalcommunity,aglobalconsciousness,andthatwhatwedohereshiftsconsciousness.So,that’sthewayIapproachit."-JanetHeisse

ON LESSONS LEARNED...

"Wecan’tsplitradicalandliberal.Wecan’tsplitmassmobi-lizationandmassoccupationanddirectaction.BecausethatisjustanotherwaythatwefightamongstourselvesandI’velivedthatformanyyears.Andbelievemethereisacritiqueofthenon-profitindustrialcomplexthatisreal.Superproblematic.Theliberalintelligencia,superproblematic.Andstill,wehavetofindwaystobeinrelationshipwithoneanother."-LisaFithian

"It’slikethelaborunionsthatsay:'Ifyouliketheeighthourdayandthefivedayweek,thankthelaborunions.'Nobodyevergivesyounothing,poweryieldsnothingwithoutademand."-KitGage

“Ithinktheuselessstructureswillfallawayandotherstructureswillemerge.Ithinkthatkindofdynamicisalwayshappening.ItakehopefromthatandItrynottogettoooverwhelmedwiththeotherthings.Itreallycanbeveryverydifficulttokeepyourperspective.”-JaneMidgely

"We can’t just be against something; we have to be for something. What does peace look like? What does justice look like? And I can tell you: it’s when everybody has food. It’s when everyone has a decent place to be. You know, they can get healthcare when they need it. They will have a decent education. They’ll be able to get a job with a living wage. These are--this is what peace looks like, this is what justice is.” - Mark Andersen

“I think we have to learn how to build community, and build resistance. And I think we have hardly begun to plumb what nonviolence is--and I don’t mean nonviolence as just refraining from violence--but really challenging deep-running nonviolent approaches to social change that involve toughness and risk-taking and contesting the masters of the world. We really need to learn how to be good at that, individually and collectively, and be committed to it.” -Paul Magno

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