The peace movement is definitely alive and well in New York State. Here’s the latest.
Guantanamo Vigils
Vigils to close the detention center at Guantanamo, Cuba continue the first Wednesday of every month outside the main branch of the New York Public Library in New York City. We appeal to passersby to remember and put pressure on our government officials to fulfill past promises to make that closure a reality. We speak; sing; and pass out fliers with information, statistics, and suggested actions. Join us in calling the White House to demand the closure of Guantanamo Detention Center now.
Ceasefire Vigils
Every Thursday, there is a 10 AM vigil for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel, and now the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and throughout the region, at the U.S. Mission to the UN across from the UN. People stand in silence facing the Mission with banners, signs, and baby dolls representing the Palestinian babies bloodied and killed. Pax Christi members faithfully lead this Vigil sometimes small and sometimes large.
PCMNY Peacemaker Award Celebration
On Saturday, June 7th, Pax Christi Metro New York (PCMNY) held its annual Peacemaker Awards Celebration at Keenan Commons, Xavier High School in Manhattan, NYC. This year’s honorees included Brian Terrell, international peace activist and long-time Catholic Worker from Iowa who received the Fr. Richard McSorley Award; Tom Dobbins, director of public and community engagement and social and parish engagement for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York who received the Eileen Egan Peacemaker Award; the Long Island Immigration Clinic of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Brentwood, NY, that was presented the Sister Christine Mulready Peacemaker Award accepted by its director, Sr. Janet Kinney, CSJ; and Fr. Julian S. Jagudilla, OFM, former Director of the Migrant Center at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan, NYC who received the inaugural Pope Francis Peacemaker Award. PCMNY also honored Darnell Yates II of Cardinal Hayes High School with the Maloof Family Young Peacebuilder Award. Each recipient had the opportunity to share something of his or her inspiring peacemaking work. In addition, attendees were treated to music by the Filthy Rotten System Band, light refreshments, and a 50/50 raffle.
DC Rally for Health Care and SNAP
Pax Christi Hudson Valley representative Donna Gabriel traveled to Washington, DC to join a rally in support of health care and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
No Kings Day March
Members of PCNYS joined No Kings Day Marches across the state to support democracy and to oppose authoritarianism; to support human rights for all and to oppose the detentions and deportations of those simply seeking a better life for themselves and their families in a country once known as the land of opportunity; to support health care for all and academic freedom in all educational institutions and to oppose cuts to environmental protections and international humanitarian aid; to support peace with justice, freedom, and equality for all and to oppose the expansion of military might at home and abroad; to make the U.S. truly great again for everyone, not just a privileged few.
Reading of Names of Okinawa Battle Casualties & Okinawa Memorial Day
In 1945, in Okinawa, Japan, during several months of fierce ground battle, 120,000 islanders perished, including many women and children. Ultimately 240,00 civilians and military personnel lost their lives to the war. In 1995, the people of Okinawa built The Cornerstone of Peace, a monument inscribed with the names of all those who died and who could be named, regardless of their status as civilian or military, Japanese or foreign. Since 2022, thousands of people across the globe join in to read the names of those casualties. This year, once again, members of PCNYS have joined in the reading of names. On June 23rd, Okinawa Memorial Day, some attended a vigil in NYC in solidarity with the people of Okinawa to conclude the weeks of the reading of names.
No War with Iran Protest
When the U.S. decided to help Israel in its attack on Iran, purportedly to stop Iran’s development of a nuclear weapon, peacemakers across the state and the country rose up to say NO to war on Iran. In Binghamton, NY, they gathered with signs, banners, and an open mic. These included a Binghamton University student spokesperson and members of Veterans For Peace, Peace Action, Pax Christi, and Indivisible of Broome County. They then walked to Congressman Riley’s and Senator Charles Schumer’s offices. Two news reports can be watched here:
https://www.wbng.com/2025/06/19/group-protests-ongoing-war-between-israel-iran
In NYC, members of Pax Christi joined the National Iranian American Council New York chapter, If Not Now NYC, Brooklyn for Peace, and Peace Action NYS at a candlelight vigil in front of Senator Chuck Schumer’s Manhattan office to commemorate the civilians killed in the war on Iran and to call for an end to the war, sanctions, and foreign intervention that only exacerbate the conflict and devastate innocent Iranian lives, along with all lives of participating countries.
Good Trouble March
July 17th marked the day for Good Trouble Marches across the country, PCNYS included. Civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis coined the phrase “Good Trouble” to refer to communal actions to challenge injustice and create meaningful change through peaceful, nonviolent demonstrations. Together we stood up for civil and human rights of all kinds for all people.
40-Day Fast for Gaza
This fast began in May under the leadership of Veterans for Peace and continued through June. A core group of fasters limited themselves to 250 calories a day for as many of the 40 days as possible. The 250 calories are equivalent to the number of calories allotted to the people of Gaza on a daily basis. This core group stood witness outside the U.S. Mission to the UN throughout the Fast. In addition, hundreds of others, including many Pax Christi members, fasted in solidarity in a variety of ways at some point within the 40-day period wherever they were. On the last day of the Fast, those in NYC expanded their action to a procession to the Israeli Mission to the UN where some committed civil disobedience.
In upstate New York, in solidarity with the actions in NYC, Veterans for Peace, Pax Christi members, and other fellow peace activists held their own vigil. They received many positive responses from people on foot and in passing vehicles. Watch a report here:
40-Day Fast for Gospel Nonviolence
As the 40-Day Fast for Gaza drew to a close, the annual 40-Day Fast for Gospel Nonviolence began. This Fast runs from July 1st to August 9th. The closing date is significant because on August 9th, 1942, St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein) was killed at Auschwitz; on August 9th, 1943, Blessed Franz Jaegerstatter was beheaded for refusing to serve in Hitler’s army (the army of a “Christian” nation); and on August 9th, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, destroying the largest and oldest Christian community in that country, and killing 140,000 people. People join this Fast by choosing a day or days during the 40-day period to refrain from food, TV, the internet, social media, driving, or whatever else will enables them to pray, repent, and sacrifice, recognizing that violence in not the way to resolve our conflicts. This year’s Fast began with an Opening Prayer and ended with a Closing Prayer that you can access by clicking on the links for each.
No to Flying the Israeli Flag over the Broome County, NY Jail
For over 600 days the Israeli flag flew over Broome County Correctional Center in upstate NY. Members of Veterans for Peace, Pax Christi, Peace Action, and Jewish Voice for Peace saw this as a flagrant display of a Sheriff knowingly engaging in a divisive, illegal act in violation of New York State Public Building Law. New York State Law forbids a foreign flag from flying over public property. The actual wording of the law states that, “It shall not be lawful to display the flag or emblem of any foreign country upon any state, county or municipal building; provided, however, that whenever any foreigner shall become the guest of the United States, the state or any city, upon public proclamation by the governor or mayor of such city, the flag of the country of which such public guest shall be a citizen may be displayed upon such public buildings.”
The peace activists say the flag of Israel represents the greatest human rights disaster in modern history, yet has flown proudly at the Broome County Correctional Facility by order of Sheriff Akshar whose dedication to this illegal action has also made Broome County one of the leading penal camps for immigrants in New York State. The activists gathered outside the facility to demonstrate their opposition. Veterans For Peace further notified Sheriff Akshar that it would file a lawsuit if the Israeli flag was not taken down within 10 days, and they also submitted a petition to the Broome County Legislative Members expressing their outrage over the whole situation, listing the deadly impact of Israel’s criminal behavior that the International Criminal Court has ruled a plausible genocide against the people of Gaza. After 6 days the flag was taken down. The protesters are now seeking a public apology from the Sheriff. See videos of the actions here:
https://www.wbng.com/2025/07/23/protestors-call-israeli-flag-be-taken-down-outside-sheriffs-building
PCUSA National Conference
From July 25th to the 27th, Pax Christi USA held its bi-annual National Conference in Detroit, MI. Prior to the Conference, there were several meetings, including one for state chapters and regions. PCNYS Coordinator Rosemarie Pace helped plan the state and regional chapters meeting, which included a synodal-style session at which we addressed numerous questions:
- Are we a movement, an organization, or both? (Most said both.)
- What does it mean to be a movement? (Answers included participate.)
- What’s most effective—national, state, regional, local, parish, etc.? (Answers varied widely depending on location and resources.)
- How do we engage with other faiths? (Be present, seek commonalities, interconnect.)
- Should we collaborate more with other organizations? Which ones? (LOTS of answers, e.g. Pace e Bene, NETWORK, Catholic Worker, Back from the Brink, Veterans for Peace, Peace Action, etc.)
We also had a session with Marie Dennis, Senior Program Director of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative of Pax Christi International, on the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative and the Vow of Nonviolence. Marie invited us to share our personal definitions of nonviolence, as well as our personal stories of nonviolent actions over the years. A PowerPoint presentation included examples of Learnable Nonviolent Skills. Marie offered Jesus as an exemplar of nonviolence in the face of individual and structural violence. Finally, she reviewed the Vow of Nonviolence with us and asked what we found most difficult in it or simply what stood out.
We also had some time with the National Council at which we were able to address some practical concerns between the national office and the states and regions, such issues as member lists; better connections among staff, Council, and the members; finding balance as a movement and organization; and use of media.
The Conference, itself, provided excellent keynote presentations from Maria Stefan, chief organizer at the Horizons Project and co-author of Why Civil Resistance Works: the Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict, and Jonathan Kuttab, executive director of Friends of Sabeel North America. There was a wealth of choices among break-out sessions on various topics, including immigration, indigenous peoples and the Earth, the crisis in Sudan, faith-based advocacy, Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action, gun violence, nuclear weapons abolition, and the surveillance state. Peacemaker Awards were presented to META Peace Team, Ralph McCloud, and Joryán Hernández. The liturgies were particularly beautiful, including a Prayer Walk to the Spirit of Detroit statue to conclude the Conference. We were also blessed with a greeting from Pope Leo XIV.
You can watch and read about some of the Conference here:
Hiroshima/Nagasaki Memorials
This year was the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. As we have done for many years, with this year carrying a particular poignancy, we held a number of memorials not only to mourn and repent for the horrific deaths and destruction caused by the bombings, but also to urge the abolition of all nuclear weapons.
On August 5th (August 6th in Japan), Pax Christi members joined the Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World and others at the Japanese Consulate in NYC to stand vigil, distribute handouts, and read a letter of apology. Members of the co-sponsoring organizations offered statements regarding their organizations call for nuclear weapons abolition. We also held signs and banners and sang while a small group met with members of the Consulate in their office. You can read our hand-out here and our Open Letter to the People of Japan here. You can also read an article about the action here: https://thegoodnewsroom.org/eighty-years-on-nuclear-weapons-still-threaten-humanity-catholic-groups-warn/ and see an excerpt of PCNYS Coordinator Rosemarie Pace’s comments here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?comment_id=1275276454324407&v=734104776075652¬if_id=1754537231032779¬if_t=comment_mention&ref=notif.
On August 6th, Rosemarie Pace was interviewed for the WBAI radio show, Advocating for Justice. Her interview is available here: https://wbai.org/archive/program/episode/?id=59370, starting at 9:40
On August 8th (August 9th in Japan), PCNYS hosted a Zoom meeting which included most of a recording of Pax Christi International’s webinar, 80 Years of Memory and Action: Honoring the Past, Advancing Disarmament, and Building a Peaceful Future. The full webinar is available here: https://paxchristi.net/80-years-of-memory-and-action-webinar/. We also made time for prayer and Q & A.
On August 9th, U.S. time, Pax Christi Metro New York (PCMNY) joined War Resisters League (WRL) for their annual commemoration in Tompkins Square Park in lower Manhattan. WRL sets up an exhibition of large banners with news reports and commentary about the atomic bombings. PCMNY distributed a leaflet with facts and action suggestions to folks visiting the park. They also offered prayers and led a procession around the Park, then rang a gong 80 times to represent the 80 years since the bombings.
Upstate NY, Rachel Clark, Japanese by birth and American by choice, joined with Japanese resident of Hiroshima, Ken’ichi Narikawa for a solemn and informative morning at First Congregational Church in Binghamton. Rachel is a well informed and eloquent spokesperson for peace and justice. A long-time translator for NGOs at the UN and for US and Japanese government officials, she riveted the audience with her focus on the dangers of nuclear energy in every form and her call for halting all nuclear energy plants and nuclear weapons. She also translated Ken’ichi’s story of his conversion to nonviolence after 27 years in the Japanese Navy. He and others rang a large bell in memory of the tens of thousands incinerated on August 6th and 9th, 1945–over 200,000 who would die of severe burns, radiation, and leukemia. The program began with opening prayers by Pastor Jon Haack that focused on the beatitudes, reminding folks that “peacemakers are the children of God.” Ed Nizalowski, a member of Peace Action/VFP, used his soprano sax to give solemnity to the setting. Jim Clune read a paragraph of a release from Indivisible, a progressive movement dedicated to rebuilding democracy. Many comments and questions followed with an open microphone for the audience.
Subsequently, Jack Gilroy, a powerhouse behind many of the upstate actions, received the very well-deserved Veterans for Peace Howard Zinn Lifetime Achievement Award.
Protest of Gaza Genocide at U.S. Rep. Riley’s office
Speaking of Jack, another of his passionate actions happened at his Congressman’s NYS office in Binghamton, NY. On August 20th, about 40 constituents, including Jack, attempted to visit Congressman Josh Riley’s office, which was open with lights on and staff inside when they arrived outside the building, but when they entered the building, they found the office closed, the lights off, and the staff gone. Consequently, they left a letter and photos (https://youtu.be/I-Iu-Ur0d9E?si=HgHcBzNMrM5wszMQ) in the abandoned office. The content addressed the ongoing genocide being perpetrated against the Palestinian people with full US political and military collaboration and followed repeated requests for a meeting since Representative Riley took office.
Eight days later, the group learned that Congressman Riley and State Senate and Assembly representatives Anna Kelles and Leah Webb would be attending the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce breakfast panel at Ithaca College. They planned a rally outside the building, saying, “No to Israel’s Starvation & Genocide,” but when the day arrived, they learned that the breakfast was cancelled “due to safety concerns.” The group agreed to move the rally, but, unlike the politicians, not cancel it. Their message remains relevant and urgent and cannot be dropped.
PCNYS Gathering & Kateri Peace Conference
For the fourth time since PCNYS was established as a state chapter of PCUSA, we held a Gathering at the St. Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine in Fonda, NY. This year for the first time we invited guest speakers who enriched our meeting with their informed and informative presentations. On Thursday afternoon, August 21st, Charlene Howard, executive director of PCUSA, and Stephen Niamke, Field Organizer of PCUSA, began with some background on Pax Christi, its founding and early history, as well as current priorities, programs, structure, and function. They then used lectio divina to guide us to ways we can be Pilgrims of Hope during this Jubilee Year when it can seem so very hard to hold onto hope.
On Friday morning, we listened to a panel on “Nonviolent Resistance: Following Jesus from War to Peace.” Our panelists were Jack Gilroy, Veteran for Peace; Stephen Niamke, conscientious objector (CO); Mark Scibilia-Carver, inspiration behind the new Ben Salmon No Just War Catholic Conscientious Objector Registry; and Ruth Benn from the War Resisters League. Each shared personal stories of their journey to where they are today as peacemakers. Mark and Ruth also provided concrete options for all of us, young and old, to divest from the war machine. To see more about the CO Registry, visit https://paxchristiusa.org/2025/06/18/pax-christi-usa-announces-conscientious-objection-registry/.
The Kateri Peace Conference follows the PCNYS Gathering. This year’s overall theme was Palestine and Israel: Tragedy, Trauma, Truth & Compassion. Friday evening the Social Justice Artists Collective in association with Creative Action Unlimited presented “A Tapestry of Word and Music for Palestine and Israel” with powerful performances of Seven Jewish Children and The Gaza Monologues. The former was a series of adult dialogues advising what to tell or not tell a Jewish child about the inescapable dangers, fears, and reassurances of life in a land besieged by conflict. The latter consisted of actual writings of Gazan youth about their lives under occupation and oppression, their aspirations and despair. The evening concluded with heart-wrenching poetry by Sana Wazwaz, a young Palestinian-American woman. The poems expressed the pain and sorrow, frustrations and grief of being a people ignored, abandoned, violated, and living a death sentence.
On Saturday morning, renowned scholar on the Middle East, Phyllis Bennis, provided the keynote address, “Genocide in the Time of Monsters.” You can hear her entire speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBLhcsBQ8-c&t=31s. Following Phyllis’s address, D. Colin presented a spoken word response to the genocide. Then Sana Wazwaz returned with a workshop on “Debunking Zionist Myths.” What she offered were seven ways to respond to the myths that many people believe and state when discussing the current genocide:
- Stick to the foundation of your point—that the civilians of Gaza should not be held responsible for what happened on October 7th.
- Respond with what appeals to different groups, e.g. the right to free speech, daily life where Israelis and Palestinians can’t even drive on the same roads, etc.
- Stay on topic; stay focused, e.g. stay on Gaza; don’t get pulled into comparisons with Saudi Arabia or other places where human rights may be compromised.
- Set “them” up for something unambiguous, e.g. Do you condemn the sniping of young children in the head, which is documented fact?
- Avoid abstract social justice rhetoric; show, don’t tell, e.g. Is it self-defense to snipe children?
- Ask questions to go along with claims, e.g. What do you mean by that? Can you give me an example?
- Break things down. Repeat back. Use active listening.
After Sana’s workshop, there was a panel presentation on “Opportunities for Action Embraced.” Kathy Manley told about her experience as a participant in a Global March to Gaza. Brian Terrell reported on the 40 Day Fast for Gaza. Pippa Bartolotti described her experience as part of a Gaza “Flytilla” in 2011. The group was invited by 14 Palestinian civil society groups to join them in a cultural tour, but instead they were labeled hooligans and dangerous provocateurs about to undertake violent demonstrations against Israel. Pippa was held in detention for five days before being deported. Jeid Ebanks, a nurse volunteer with the International Medical Corps, used her own powerful graphic poetry to present an exposé of her work in battered hospitals in barely functional operating rooms and delivering babies in make-shift tents.
The Conference concluded with a choice of two out of three workshops on “Changing the Discourse” with Phyllis Bennis, “Caring about Palestine—Making It Real” with the four panelists named above, and “Writing from Mind and Heart about Palestine in Order to Move Hearts and Minds” with D. Colin.
Farewell to a founding PCNYS Council Member
John Baum of Pax Christi Long Island (PCLI) was a founding member of the PCNYS Council. Sadly, he died on May 31st this year. Ed Kubik, PCLI’s other member of the PCNYS Council offered this tribute to John. He wrote: John was a passionate advocate for peace, a “doer,” not just a talker, a role model, not just a follower. He led PCLI’s initiative to collaborate with the Catholic schools in the Rockville Center Diocese to bring the message of Catholic social teaching/action into the classroom as encouraged by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. John was probably best known for developing and spearheading PCLI’s effort to plant 100 Peace Poles throughout Long Island. In that endeavor, he was able to establish a
connection with the Rotary Clubs of America which resulted in support and financial assistance from the business community. John’s work led to many plantings at schools, libraries and parks. He also mightily contributed to Patchogue’s success in being named a City of Peace. John had a quiet strength that helped bring confidence to all. He was a very wise man with a deep spirituality. His “light” was a great gift to PCLI and the wider peace activist community on Long Island. John’s spirit will continue to enlighten and further the work of PCLI. Rest in Peace and Thank You, John!
Finally, over the past few months, PCNYS has co-sponsored, endorsed, or signed onto the following:
- A letter to Secretary Marco Rubio in support of the Madleen, part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla
- A letter to Secretary Marco Rubio demanding an immediate end to the blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the restoration of U.S. funding to UNRWA, and an immediate and lasting ceasefire
- A letter to members of Congress to comply with section 6201 of the Foreign Assistance Act to secure an immediate surge in humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, a ceasefire, and release of hostages and unlawfully detained prisoners
- A letter to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to End U.S. support for Israel’s Genocide in Gaza
- The letter: No War on Iran. No Genocide in Palestine. No Exceptions
- A Senate Joint Resolution and a Concurrent House Resolution to direct the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress
- Condemnation of U.S. Unauthorized Strikes on Iran by Progressive, Civil and Human Rights, and Foreign Policy Organizations
- An Open Letter to Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in Support of H. Res. 317, “Urging the U.S. to Lead the World Back from the Brink of Nuclear War and Halt and Reverse the Nuclear Arms Race”
- Apology petition to the people of Japan on the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings
- A Joint Interfaith Statement Marking 80 Years Since the First Use of Nuclear Weapons
- The War on Women: A Statement on the Situation in Sudan
- A letter to the Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council, “Sudan: Extend the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission for two more years”
- The Make Billionaires Pay March
- A letter to Secretary Marco Rubio in support of a Congressional letter urging an end to the illegal arms trafficking to Haiti
- Endorsement of the Enduring Welcome Act to Stand with Afghan Allies
Thank you, Rosemarie Pace. Researching and writing on actions around the state is truly a major chore.
The most annoying report was the acceptance of the Rockville Diocese that social justice issues are declining, as reported in Newsday, and that Pax Christi Long Island’s call for a peace and Justice Commission was brushed off by a comment that “parishes already have Peace and Justice organizations in place.
My question is, are those Peace and Social Justices encouraged and praised by the pastors and Bishop? Are they the focus of each parish?