Witnessing for Peace across the State

by paxchristinys.orgPosted on One Comment

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.

Speaking Out for Migrants

Pax Christi Long Island (PCLI) has been particularly active in speaking out for migrants subject to detentions, abuse, neglect, family separations, and deportations at the hands of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. They’ve joined with a coalition of LI based faith groups to protest these heartless and inhumane treatments at the offices of their Congressional representatives after being unsuccessful in obtaining face-to-face meetings to deliver a Statement and press for more dialogue. Their actions have brought them print coverage in the Long Island paper, Newsday, and on-line video coverage with interviews on their website.

They’ve also taken action to encourage Bishop Barres of the Rockville Centre Diocese to speak out on the immigration issue on Long Island. The Nassau County Executive is fully cooperating with ICE, allocating a number of NC Police Officers to assist and making available a number of jail cells for detention. The Bishop published a thoughtful paper two years ago, but has been silent ever since. PCLI is calling for him to speak out now against the cruelty their immigrant neighbors face daily. As a first step, they ran a postcard campaign urging Bishop Barres to adhere to Pope Leo’s directive and publicly denounce the cruel treatment of immigrants. Step Two involved a SILENT Vigil outside the Cathedral of St. Agnes to be a visible presence to let the Bishop know their hopes and desires of him.

Similarly, PC Maryknoll has been giving a lot of attention to the immigrant crisis. As a summary, they report that there are on-going protests in both Rockland and Westchester counties. The various ethnic communities are all subject to surveillance and being nabbed and detained. Fortunately, several groups with whom some of the Maryknollers volunteer, are actively documenting, witnessing, and following up on locating individuals taken.

The Right to Live Free from Gun Violence

Pax Christi Queens, a local group in Pax Christi New York State, spent the past year reading and discussing the book American Carnage on gun violence. Then the horrific shooting happened at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis. In response to the shooting, Rosemarie Pace, a member of PC Queens, wrote a letter to the Readers Forum of the Brooklyn Diocese Tablet, which was published and can be read here:https://thetablet.org/letters-to-the-editor-week-of-september-13-2025/

Make Billionaires Pay March, September 20th, 2025

Members of PCNYS joined Make Billionaires Pay Marches across the state. The message was simple: the reallocation of our money from war and military occupation of our cities to health care, education, environmental protections and, in general, people over profits.

Campaign Nonviolence and Catholic Global Days of Action, September 21st–October 2nd, 2026

As part of Pace e Bene’s Campaign Nonviolence and the Pax Christi’s Catholic Global Days of Action, which overlap, we participated in several events. You can read about those within New York City here: https://paceebene.org/blog/pax-christi-new-york-state-event.

In addition, on UN International Day of Peace, September 21st, PCLI co-sponsored a program on this year’s theme, “Act Now for a Peaceful World.”

At Binghamton University on September 25th, there was a Teach-in that offered support to students and faculty under intimidation and threat of antisemitism for criticizing genocide in Gaza. PCNYS Councilmember, Jack Gilroy, was a key organizer of the Teach-in.

Not specifically a part of Campaign Nonviolence or the Catholic Global Days of Action, but falling during that time period, Peace Action New York State held its annual Peacemaker Celebration on September 29th at which both Jack Gilroy and Rosemarie Pace were named “Teach Truth Educators.” You can read all about it here: https://www.panys.org/news-updates/wsc2025?emci=f1744ec4-2ab4-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&emdi=1fde16fa-3eb4-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&ceid=303385

Disruption at Port Elizabeth: “The Nonviolent Way to Stop a Genocide Is to Stop the Shipment of Weapons”

On Friday, October 3rd, 2025, John Amidon, another PCNYS Councilmember joined with about 100 activists to help prevent the illegal and criminal weapons shipments to Israel at Port Elizabeth, NJ. They occupied a key road going into the Port for about an hour. They also released a statement: “This site exports weapons used by Israel to kill Palestinians in Gaza, shipped by Maersk and ZIM. In addition, it is one of the largest weapons exporters on the East coast. Supplying these weapons for Israel’s genocide is a blatant violation of the U.S. War Crimes Act, the Leahy law, The Foreign Assistance Act, Arms Export Control Act, and The Genocide Convention Implementation Act. To uphold these laws and prevent unlawful weapons shipments, protestors peacefully came to uphold all U.S. and international laws pertaining to genocide. According to U.N. Special Rapporteur for Palestine, Francesca Albanese, the newest estimates of those brutally killed in the genocide is 680,000, almost half who are children under 5 years old. This was a peaceful act in solidarity with those protesting at the ports of Oakland, of Dublin, Ireland, ports in Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, and Greece, the Global Sumud Flotilla, and most importantly, the people and children of Gaza.” The group added: “One of the participants, Mark Scibilia-Carver (yet another PCNYS Councilmember) who was arrested, noted that the most effective nonviolent way to stop a genocide is to stop the shipment of weapons.”

Read more: accuracy.org/release/disrup…

Watch: https://youtu.be/Rc6cvMe28ac

Listen to an interview with John Amidon: https://www.mediasanctuary.org/stories/2025/port-elizabeth-protest-on-arm-shipments-to-israel/

Get background information from the Electronic Intifada: “Shipping giant Maersk supplies Israel with warplanes.” 

And see IPA news release breaking down relevant U.S. laws.

Meeting with Senators Gillibrand and Schumer’s Staff re Joint Resolution of Dismissal (JRD), September 4th & October 8th, 2025, respectively

Ed Kubik, PCNYS Councilmember from PC Long Island, and Rosemarie Pace, PCNYS Coordinator, joined a Zoom meeting with one of Senator Gillibrand’s staff, organized by Peace Action NYS, to question Senator Gillibrand as to why she did not support the JRD to stop arming Israel against U.S. law regarding genocide and to appeal to her to do so going forward. Rosemarie then joined a similar meeting with a member of Senator Schumer’s staff. Specifically, our asks were to:

  • Request a 2nd member level meeting with leaders from this group – to establish a dialogue and publicly express support for Schumer’s position should it change, to work with him hand in glove. 
  • Call on Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to: 
  • Publicly support and vote for all future resolutions blocking weapons transfers to Israel.
  • Co-sponsor legislation that conditions or halts military assistance in accordance with U.S. and international law.
  • Demand an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the lifting of the siege on Gaza, and the restoration of humanitarian aid via the UN-led system.
  • introduce a Senate Companion to Block the Bombs.

No Kings Day, October 18th, 2025

Another day of marching in protest against so many of the current policies and practices that are doing so much harm to so many people and the environment while serving the greedy few. Watch this video from the action in Albany, NY provided by our own John Amidon and including Jack Gilroy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDBGVGR3RXc. Others from PCNYS joined marches wherever they were.

Fall Assembly, November 1st. 2025

Pax Christi Metro NY held its Fall Assembly on November 1st, 2025 with the theme “War Resistance Revived” at which we introduced the new Pax Christi Ben Salmon No Just War Catholic Conscientious Objector’s Registry. The idea is to inform young adults about what conscientious objection is, that it’s a legal and faith-based option, why they might consider it, and how to go about it if they agree to choose it. Speakers included Pierre Fidelia, PCMNY’s Board President, who reported on the “State of the Region;” Br. Anthony Zuba, who opened and closed the event with prayer; Terry Fitzgibbon, who shared his story of “serving” in the military and becoming a Veteran for Peace and member of About Face, formerly Veterans against the Iraq War; and Jonathan Schwarte from the Center on Conscience and War, who presented a video of the Center’s Executive Director describing the whole CO process.

Western NY Peace Center Annual Dinner, November 10th, 2025

Tom Casey, PCNYS Councilmember representing Western New York (the Buffalo region), has been a long-time member of the Western New York Peace Center which held its annual dinner on November 10th on the theme, “Defending Democracy: Demanding Our Rights Together.” Besides dinner, there was a panel discussion with Craig G. Mokhiber, International Human Rights Lawyer and Activist; Franchelle C.H. Parker, Founder and Executive Director, Open Buffalo, a civic organization dedicated to advancing racial, economic, and ecological justice in Buffalo; Dr. Shannon Seneca, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies, University at Buffalo; and Dr. Shyam Sriram, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Canisius University. In addition, they honored Macklin Leader with their Emerging Leaders Award.

Armistice Day (also known as Veterans Day), November 11th, 2025

PCNYS members were out on the streets from Albany to Binghamton to New York City to call for peace and an end to war. You can watch a short video of the parade in Albany on a mostly deserted and cold street with Veterans for Peace at the very end: https://youtu.be/oXuDG6oK5Po

In Buffalo, there was their traditional bell ringing at 11 AM, a short comment by Pastor Jon Haack of First Congregational Church, and, in the snow and cold, some folks shared their memories of war. They then took banners and flags down the street to the American Legion Post 80 for an Armistice/Veterans Day concert. A terrific group, BLUE STONE, performed a medley of songs of peace and war.

In New York City, we joined members of About Face and Veterans for Peace in City Hall Park for a frigid vigil with speakers sharing their experiences in the military and proclaiming “No War on Our Cities.” The main focus was a call to stop the military occupation of U.S. cities and to put an end to ICE.

The Ignatian Solidarity Family Teach-in, November 15th-17th, 2025

From November 15th to the 17th, the Ignatian Solidarity Network hosted its annual Ignatian Family Teach-in in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. This year’s theme was “Pressing On,” with renowned keynote presentations by Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, founder of Homeboy Industries; Christina Leaño of the Laudato Si’ Movement; and Yuneun Trujillo, an immigration lawyer and faith-based community organizer. Approximately 2,000 people attended, mostly Jesuit high school and college students, but many others, as well, including several Pax Christi members who were grateful for the opportunity to have an exhibit table and a very well-received break-out session. Supplementing PCUSA’s table was another by the Friends of Ben Salmon who highlighted the new Ben Salmon No Just War Catholic Conscientious Objection (CO) Registry staffed by the Registry’s founder Pax Christi New York State Council member Mark Scibilia-Carver and Fr. Bernie Survil. The two men reported a constant stream of interested young men and women.

The break-out session, “Not by the Sword: Conscientious Objection to War,” was a particular hit with about 40 attendees filling our space. Combining a PowerPoint slideshow with prayer, a personal CO testimony, a skit illustrating the importance of early filing as a CO, and Q & A, we covered Catholic Social Teaching on nonviolence, a bit of CO history, why now, how, and where to get support. The questions we received were thoughtful. Everyone in attendance left with a copy of our application to the Registry, and we left with great hope that many will choose to become COs. To learn more, visit https://paxchristiusa.org/2025/06/18/pax-christi-usa-announces-conscientious-objection-registry/.

Red Candle: Light for Palestine, December 5th, 2025

During Advent this year, 2025, members of Pax Christi, including Rosemarie Pace of PCNYS,

joined this movement uniting Christians across traditions to stand in solidarity with Palestinians and advocate for peace and justice in the Holy Land. We lit red candles and shared our prayers and reflections which you can see and hear at this Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/reel/817513714619169

Anti-Genocide Activists Target Huge Military Hub for Israel in New Jersey, December 5th, 2025

On Friday, December 5th, over 50 anti-genocide activists picketed the G&B Packing warehouse in Jersey City. According to an explosive report by Progressive International and the Palestinian Youth Movement and an investigative feature by Dropsite News, both released on November 24, the warehouse, located at 1A Colony Road in Jersey City, processes over 1,000 tons of military cargo shipped by ZIM and Maersk to Israel every week in coordination with its logistics branch and sister company Interglobal Forwarding Services. The demonstrators protested in front of the Interglobal Forwarding Services and G&B Packing warehouse from 5:15-6:45 AM. They distributed leaflets to workers as they lined up to enter the facility at 6 AM, calling for an arms embargo and urging warehouse employees not to handle Israeli military cargo. They were greeted by supportive honks and thumbs up, but NJ State Police ordered the protesters to move to a patch of grass to the left of the warehouse. From 6:45 until 7:30 AM, they continued their action as a moving picket in front of a warehouse entrance. Participants in the demonstration included members of Veterans for Peace Chapter 10, PAL-Awda NY/NJ, Port Workers and Communities for Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement, Downtown Berrigan Collective, Veterans for Peace Stu Naismith Chapter 90, Pax Christi Upstate NY, NJ Oust the Warehouse Coalition, Friends of Ben Salmon, as well as autonomous organizers. Watch a video of the action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmPYLdZCpmw&t=12s, and read more below the video, as well as here:

Press Conference to Hold Politicians Accountable, December 9th, 2025

Jack Gilroy from PCNYS was part of a press conference held in painfully cold Binghamton, NY, on December 9th to expose Senator Charles Schumer (D) and Representative Josh Riley (D) for their support of genocide and the “Merchants of Death;” that is, the major manufacturers of weapons of mass destruction. They held the press conference because these elected officials will not allow peacemakers into their offices. More information here:

Democracy In Peril on University Campuses

Jack Gilroy of PC Upstate NY reported on a Teach-in at Binghamton University regarding attacks on campuses over claims of antisemitism and genocide in Gaza and then published an article in Covert Magazine on the same subject, which you can read here:

https://covertactionmagazine.com/2025/12/01/democracy-in-peril-on-university-campuses/

Farewell and Thanks to Edith Newman and Welcome to Sr. Mary Beth Moore

After serving on the PCNYS Council since its inception, Edith Newman has decided it’s time for her to resign. We want to thank Edith for her years of service and wish her a blessed “retirement.” At the same time, we are very pleased to welcome Sr. Mary Beth Moore to the Council. Sr. Mary Beth is a Sister of Charity of Halifax and a long-time member of Pax Christi Long Island. She worked in Peru years ago—and met Pope Leo when they were both there in times past. She has also worked extensively with migrants here in New York.

Finally, over the past few months, PCNYS has co-sponsored, endorsed, or signed onto the following:

  • An amicus brief in support of Mahmoud Khalil
  • The Joint Appeal for Nuclear Abolition Day, September 26th
  • The Let Children Live Campaign (for Palestinian Children)
  • The Global Day of Education to Close Bases
  • The Call to Religious Leaders and People of Faith to Denounce Threats against Clergy supporting Haitian Immigrants
  • The Call to “Keep It On:” Time to End Sudan’s Isolation and Lift the Block on WhatsApp
  • The Call for Safe Passage: Protection for Civilians under Siege in El Fasher, Sudan
  • The End War Everywhere! Action, October 7th, the Anniversary of the War on Afghanistan and the Hamas Attack on Israel
  • A Call for a Congressional Block on Unauthorized U.S. Military Action in the Caribbean,
  • A Call for a Congressional Investigation into the Lethal Military Strikes against Vessels in the Caribbean Sea
  • An Appeal for President Trump to Demand the UAE Stop Sending Weapons and Other Support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan and to surge U.S. Humanitarian Assistance to the Sudanese People
  • An Urgent Call to the U.S. State Department to Designate the RSF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
  • A Demand to Congress to Cosponsor and Pass Several Bills regarding Gun Violence and to Block the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act
  • A Request that President Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan include Support for UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
  • An Appeal to the NBA to End its Partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its Arming the RSF in Sudan
  • A Call to the U.S. State Department and the Israeli Military to Protect the Ancient Religious Site in Sebastia, Palestine