Busy Month of Actions Against War in Gaza by Triangle (NC) Branch

WILPF Triangle (NC) members supported a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza at a town council meeting in Carrboro, NC. Credit: Emily O'Hare

by Liz Evans, Emily Keel, Lucy Lewis and Lib Hutchby
Triangle, NC WILPF

December 2023

On Thursday, November 2, 10 WILPF Triangle (NC) members kept vigil at the Peace & Justice Plaza at noon across the street from the UNC-Chapel Hill campus, with petitions asking US Rep. Valerie Foushee to co-sponsor HR 786 calling for immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine.  Numerous people stopped to thank us for being there, while 65 people signed the petition during the 1-hour vigil. Several members later traveled to Durham for the Ceasefire Now Rally sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace. 

At the late afternoon rally at CCB Plaza in downtown Durham, four WILPF Triangle members attended in support.  Several hundred people gathered to demand a ceasefire in Gaza where the Israeli army had — at that time — killed more than 9,000 Palestinians, including 3,600 children.  The group heard speakers from Jewish Voice for Peace, as well as a Palestinian Rania Masri, who was impassioned by the renewed conflict. Afterwards, a smaller group formed to march to a point beside Highway 147, the Durham Freeway. Others overlooked the Mangum Street overpass and the roadside as protestors called out for an end to the fighting and for preserving all lives in finding an end to conflict. About 40 protesters took to the freeway to block one direction of traffic. They disbanded after more than 3 hours with no arrests made at that time. There were repeated calls for US Rep. Valerie Foushee to represent the people and demand a ceasefire.
Photo: Rally calling for a ceasefire on the Durham freeway, blocking one direction of traffic. Credit: Mary Jenne

Solidarity is an important offering of support to those who suffer. On Friday, November 10, the Triangle Raging Grannies organized a Fast for the Children of Gaza. Triangle WILPF members participated in Raleigh at the protest, at home, or wherever we found ourselves on that day, as we remembered those whose culture, families, and very breath has been taken from them by wars' traumatizing violence. Because it was a holiday and we were located across from the Natural Science Museum near the State Capitol, the photos displayed of suffering children were seen by all who were willing to look. The coordinator was interviewed by two television stations and all who were present had an opportunity to share our reason for being there with parents and others who passed by. 

On Tuesday, November 14, two of our members attended and one of us spoke at the Carrboro Town Council meeting, along with about 30 other community members including members of Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine. We were there to support the resolution proposed by a Council member calling for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire, greater humanitarian aid to Gaza and resolving that the town of Carrboro supports all of its Muslim and Jewish residents and condemns islamophobia and antisemitism and that the Town Council ask the Town Clerk that copies of this resolution be quickly forwarded to the President of the United States and Carrboro’s congressional delegation. The Resolution passed 4-3.

In addition, we continue calling and writing to the White House and our congressional delegation and are currently working with members of NC Peace Action to try and schedule a meeting with Rep. Foushee or her staff.