Activism in the Nation's Capital

Department of Justice when Australian Parliamentarians visited the DOJ (Luci & Martha on the left).

By Martha Allen

February 2024

Martha Allen's participation in WILPF follows in the footsteps of her mother who was active in the early 1960s, including as the National Legislative chair of WILPF. Martha is also the Director of the Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press (www.wifp.org).

WILPF DC, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) members have been active visiting senators and representatives in Congress calling for a ceasefire and no more US taxpayer money for the genocide in Gaza. We visited embassies around the city urging them to sign onto the case of South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Connecting with other local activists working on peace and justice issues, our members are deeply involved in anti-imperialist actions, No to NATO efforts, environmental issues, community control of the police, and local efforts such as supporting the Bethesda African Cemetery that is being demolished. And, among these many other concerns, we are active in the efforts to free journalist and publisher Julian Assange.

DC WILPF have been joining many other organizations such as CodePink, Doctors Against Genocide, Teachers Against Genocide, Palestine American Women's Association, and Nonviolence International, visiting congressional offices in the House and Senate calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and no more money to Israel. Many of the visits include creative theater to dramatize the urgency of our concerns. At times, we consist of dozens or more members, therefore we divide into groups to visit more offices, after we coordinate themes to focus on.

The testimonies and expressions from Palestinian participants and others who have been in Gaza and the West Bank are very moving. We circulate videos and photos of our daily events where independent media can share. Numerous times, Al Jazeera Arabic has covered live at length. Photos and videos have been viewed in the Middle East and around the world. It gives us some encouragement  to continue when it is such a struggle to obtain even the most basic ceasefire. The world's people are standing up and so have many in cities around the US. We highlight how the Israel lobbies such as AIPAC have given hundreds of thousands, and even millions, to our congressional representatives. Awareness is increasing, and efforts for peace and justice is now significant, particularly among young people.

We've joined with Hazami Barmada and her creative daily actions around the DMV. She has mobilized Palestinians and a wide range of activists and newly active individuals that join her in actions organized through What's App groups. You've likely seen some of their outstanding "die-ins'' and other creations on social media sites. Perhaps the greatest impact was the incredible theater in front of the White House during the recent March on Washington for Gaza on January 13th. It included a skit of blindfolded men, stripped and rounded up by Israeli military who demanded they kneel. These dedicated volunteers did this powerful presentation in the January cold.

Other members joined contingents in the gigantic March that proceeded from Freedom Plaza to the White House. Four members of the DC Branch of WILPF outfitted themselves in white to join the Bread & Puppet Theatre's continent with its many birds (wings & bird masks), including large bird puppets hovering over the Marchers as we proceeded along the streets. Bread & Puppet Theatre is a politically radical theater based in Vermont. WILPF's Dianne Blais had notified our branch of the opportunity to join the continent. Photo: Bread & Puppets continent at the March on Washington for Gaza. Credit: Martha Allen

The visits to embassies encouraged them to sign onto the case of South Africa at the ICJ. An early victory was a wonderful meeting at the Bolivian Embassy that resulted in Bolivia joining South Africa in their powerful case. Our Luci Murphy would lead us in singing as we engage in actions that bring some beauty and hope as we focus on the serious endeavors to bring an end to the genocide. We celebrated in front of the South African Embassy.

With the crisis that arose in Gaza from the ongoing occupation and settler colonialism, we haven't stopped our attention on the critical need for a free and independent press and our support for Julian Assange who through WikiLeaks exposed so much of the crimes and injustices going on. Vigils are held across from the home from Attorney General Merrick Garland and at the White House. This has been going on for years. Demonstrations also happen at the Department of Justice periodically.

While our members consist of individuals deeply involved in many other important organizations and actions – and join with us in important ways – I'd like to give a shout-out to just a few of our members who make up a core that we can count on: Tara Vassefi, Luci Murphy, Julie Leak, Fran Sanderson, Huayra Anna Forster, Ellen Siegel, Ellen Barfield, and Jill Clark-Gollub. Our strength is all of us, not just our core, and our branch is growing.